The Aged Care System in Australia is designed to support seniors with funding assistance. There are three primary types of care available through the program. They include the following:
Home Support
This is exactly as it sounds. If you are living alone in your home, a support worker provides regular help with housework, meals, shopping, transportation and other general tasks. The goal is to give seniors help with normal, everyday tasks that permit them to remain living independently in their homes.
Examples of Home Support Services:
- food preparation
- housework
- personal care
- physio and therapy
- shopping
- social activities
- transportation
- modifications to your home
What the Aged Care Program subsidizes:
- entry-level support (Commonwealth Home Support Program)
- more complex needs support (Home Care Packages)
Home Care Packages
This is a more comprehensive care package. It is designed to provide in-home support for seniors who require more extensive assistance that is outside of the scale of normal tasks. These services are coordinated by an approved home care provider.
Examples of Home Care Packages:
- short-term care to improve wellbeing and independence
- useful following a hospital stay or to give a regular caregiver a break
What the Aged Care Program subsidizes:
- up to 12 weeks of post-hospital or transition care support
- up to 8 weeks of short-term restorative care
- a few hours or days of respite care support
Residential Aged Care
This is the most extensive of the types of support. It is built upon providing seniors who can no longer live independently at home with 24-hour care, 7 days a week along with accommodation. The accommodation component can be an assisted living facility up to and including high-level nursing and health care.
Examples of Residential Aged Care Services:
- ongoing help with daily tasks or health care needs
What the Aged Care Program subsidizes:
- aged care homes to offer 24/7 care
- access to nursing and general health care
It is also important to note that the Aged Care System provides flexible care options within the three primary types. They include such options as respite care and transition care which would be accessible following hospital care. The type of care, and level it provides, depends on the eligibility of the senior in need and what they require.
Let's Not Forget Retirement Villages
Retirement villages, often called retirement homes, are another option worth considering as you approach retirement in Australia. These homes and complexes are designed for seniors who are still healthy and do not require the types of support provided by aged care homes.
The Australian government provides no funding to help with the cost of such a living arrangement. In other words, if you are well enough to move into a retirement home, you are expected to cover the full cost yourself.
There Are Standards In Place
To ensure that the level of care you receive as a senior is eligible for funding as part of Australia’s Aged Care System, standards have been implemented. All care providers must meet these standards which are carefully monitored by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission. They include:
Personal Care Standard – this is focused on the individual receiving care and ensures they are getting what they need with dignity, respect, and privacy.
Home Care Standard – this outlines the expectations of providers to meet the regulatory benchmark of standards while they provide the service offered.
24/7 Care Standard – this revolves around how the care and services are delivered.
Centre-based Respite Standard – This ensures that the environment where the care is offered is safe, clean, and meets the required needs.
Palliative Care Standard – This focuses on the responsibility of caregivers to provide safe quality care fitting a government framework.
Cutlery Standard – This targets the importance of food and nutrition and how they impact the well-being and health of seniors.
The Residential Community Standard – this standard points to the need for seniors to have opportunities to connect with and become part of their community through various activities.
Are You Retiring in Australia? Aged Care in Australia Can Help
Provided you are eligible, the Australian federal government subsidizes various levels of support. You can receive funded help in your home, short-term assistance after a hospital stay, or funding to assist with full-time care. To find out more about how these programs can have a positive impact on your retirement plans, contact Best Retirement today.