Home Care Package (HCP)

What is Home Care Packages (HCP)

The federal government’s Home Care Packages (HCP) program has a purpose to provide home care subsidies for Australian permanent residents and citizens aged 65 or over, after an assessment and financial review, because the senior is affected by their age and physical health, special home care needs and supports arising from the requirements of senior people who are aged or frail but wish to live independently and actively at home as long as possible. Therefore, eligible senior people can not only live in their familiar homes, but also have a healthy lifestyle to help cope with the effects of old age, with care services and supports by the federal government subsidy to gain professional nursing and care supports and services from approved home care providers, like Active Community Group, whilst staying independently at home if they wish. Home Care Packages have four different tiers of care level available that the senior may be allocated depending on if you require basic, low, or high care. Your package funds can only be used for care and services that benefit your health and wellbeing at home and in the community.

These packages allow you to have the flexibility with the services you would like to receive subject to the updated Operational Manual for Home Care Package Consumers (i.e. the current edition is Version 1.2 – September 2021) and Government guidelines. Accepting in-home care is often the best option and the best outcome for people wanting to stay in their own home for as long as possible but do require some additional support, to stay active and independent in the community. Depending on the level of Home Care Packages you are allocated, you can get assistance with a range of different services. Your package funds can only be used for care and services that benefit your health and wellbeing at home and in the community.

The purposes of home care services are:

• To keep you well and independent
• To keep you safe in your home
• To keep you connected to your community

What is the intent of Home Care?

The intent of the Home Care Packages Program is to provide coordinated care and services that help senior Australians to live safely and independently in their own home for as long as it is safe and appropriate to do so. In the Home Care Packages Program, you will work together with your provider to design a package of aged care services that is best and most appropriate for you as an individual.

‘Dignity of risk’ is at the centre of home care, and means that you have freedom to make choices for yourself and to guide your care, if you would like to.

A Home Care Package is not extra income that can be used for everyday items and costs. The Government funding is intended to help meet your assessed care needs so you can continue to live independently in your home for as long as it is safe and appropriate.

(Information excerpt from https://www.myagedcare.gov.au/help-at-home/home-care-packages)

Home Care Packages Levels

The package level assigned to you is based on your medical and health needs assessed by the assessor from an Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) arranged by My Aged Care. There are 1, 2, 3, and 4 levels of Home Care Packages recently. 

How much does the government contribute?

The Australian Government contributes a different amount for each level of Home Care Package. The government subsidy for each package level is as follows:

The government contribution changes on 1 July every year; these figures are up to date as at 1 July 2024.

To find out whether or not you're eligible for a Home Care Package, and subsequently what level of care you qualify for, you'll need to go through the Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT or ACAS in Victoria) which can be accessed on the myagedcare.gov.au portal.