Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
Do you have a question about home care?
Please browse through the list of questions and answers below and if you have any further questions, please click here to submit an enquiry.
An ACAT assessment is a face-to-face assessment conducted by a member of the Aged Care Assessment Team for people who are looking for help to stay at home or looking to move into an aged care facility. The assessment will determine what level of care will best suit your needs and if you are eligible for government financial support.
To find out if you’re eligibility for an ACAT assessment, contact My Aged Care on 1800 200 422. With the information you provide, the My Aged Care team will determine your suitability for a face-to-face assessment.
To receive a home care package you will need to be assessed by an Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT). To arrange an aged care assessment, contact My Aged Care on 1800 200 422. Once you have been assessed as eligible for a Home Care Package, you will receive a confirmation letter from My Aged Care and placed on the national waitlist. Once you reach the top of the waitlist you will be able to select your preferred provider and start receiving your services.
If you’re an older person finding it harder to do the things you used to do, you may qualify for home care. You will need to have a face-to-face assessment of your care needs to confirm your eligibility, call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 to request an assessment.
The Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) provides entry-level support for older people who are still able to manage living at home, but could do with some extra assistance. Services are prescribed by a Regional Assessment Service (RAS).
Home Care Packages (HCP) provide higher levels of support for older people who have more complex needs. Recipients are able to select what services they want to use their funding on.
If you are 65 years or older, or 50 years or older and identify as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person, are still living at home and need help to continue living independently, you may be eligible for Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP). You will need an assessment to determine your eligibility. You will need to have a face-to-face assessment of your care needs to confirm your eligibility, call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 to request an assessment.
Who is eligible for HACC?
On 1 February 2017 in Western Australia, Home and Community Care (HACC) services transitioned to the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP). If you are 65 years or older, or 50 years or older and identify as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person, are still living at home and need help to continue living independently, you may be eligible for Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP). You will need an assessment to determine your eligibility which can be arranged. You will need to have a face-to-face assessment of your care needs to confirm your eligibility, call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 to request an assessment.
ACAT assessments are usually done within a couple of weeks of when you first make the request for an assessment, however this will vary depending on the Aged Care Assessment Team’s availability. When you speak with My Aged Care, ask them to confirm a date for your assessment.
You can use home care package funds to pay for a range of support that will help you to remain independent and well at home and in your community. This could include nursing care, jobs around the home, meals, personal care and social support depending on your level of funding. You’re not limited to a prescribed menu of services and your provider should work with you to design a personalised Home Care Package to meet your needs.
There are four levels of Home Care Packages for different care and support needs:
- Level 1 for basic care needs
- Level 2 for low-level care needs
- Level 3 for intermediate care needs
- Level 4 for high-level care needs.
Each level receives a different amount of government funding. The higher the level, the more funding the government pays on your behalf, allowing you to buy more services. Once you’ve had an ACAT Assessment, you will be told which level applies to you.
Level 1 Home Care Packages are designed to support people who have basic level care needs. This may include help with everyday tasks such as personal care, domestic assistance, social support, meal preparation and transport.
Level 2 Home Care Packages are designed to support people who have low level care needs. This may include help with everyday tasks such as personal care, domestic assistance, social support, meal preparation, transport and some nursing care.
Level 3 Home Care Packages are designed to support people who have intermediate level care needs. This may include help with nursing care, medication management, allied health support, personal care, domestic assistance, social support, meal preparation, transport and support with changes to memory and/or behaviour.
Level 4 Home Care Packages are designed to support people who have high level or complex care needs. This may include help with nursing care, medication management, allied health support, personal care, domestic assistance, social support, meal preparation, transport and support with changes to memory and/or behaviour.
The Australian Government pays for the bulk of aged care in Australia. However, to receive help at home through the government’s home care packages you may need to contribute towards one or both of the following:
- A basic daily fee, which is a percentage of your aged pension
- A means-tested fee, payable if your income is over a certain amount
Once you’ve had an ACAT assessment, this will be sent to Centrelink, which will determine how much you will need to pay.
The maximum amount of income-tested care fees for home care you can be asked to pay is:
- $15.12 per day or $5,506.48 per year for people with income below $52,686.40 (Single person income rate)
- $30.25 per day or $11,012.99 per year for people with income above $52,686.40 (Single person income rate).
The Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) provides entry-level support for older people who are still able to manage living at home, but could do with some extra assistance. Services are prescribed by a Regional Assessment Service (RAS).
Home Care Packages (HCP) provide higher levels of support for older people who have more complex needs. Recipients are able to select what services they want to use their funding on.
What is CHSP funding?
Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) is a Government funded program that supports older people who are still managing well at home, but would like some extra assistance. Many people use CHSP when they need low-level support.
Home Care Packages are Government funded aged care services delivered to you in your home and community to help you remain independent for longer.
To receive a home care package you will need to be assessed by an Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT). To arrange an aged care assessment, contact My Aged Care on 1800 200 422. Once you have been assessed as eligible for a Home Care Package, you will receive a confirmation letter from My Aged Care and placed on the national waitlist. Once you reach the top of the waitlist you will be able to select your preferred provider and start receiving your services.
You can use home care package funds to pay for a range of support that will help you to remain independent and well at home and in your community. This could include nursing care, jobs around the home, meals, personal care and social support depending on your level of funding. You’re not limited to a prescribed menu of services and your provider should work with you to design a personalised Home Care Package to meet your needs.
There are four levels of Home Care Packages for different care and support needs:
- Level 1 for basic care needs
- Level 2 for low-level care needs
- Level 3 for intermediate care needs
- Level 4 for high-level care needs.
Each level receives a different amount of government funding. The higher the level, the more funding the government pays on your behalf, allowing you to buy more services. Once you’ve had an ACAT Assessment, you will be told which level applies to you.
Level 1 Home Care Packages are designed to support people who have basic level care needs. This may include help with everyday tasks such as personal care, domestic assistance, social support, meal preparation and transport.
Level 2 Home Care Packages are designed to support people who have low level care needs. This may include help with everyday tasks such as personal care, domestic assistance, social support, meal preparation, transport and some nursing care.
Level 3 Home Care Packages are designed to support people who have intermediate level care needs. This may include help with nursing care, medication management, allied health support, personal care, domestic assistance, social support, meal preparation, transport and support with changes to memory and/or behaviour.
Level 4 Home Care Packages are designed to support people who have high level or complex care needs. This may include help with nursing care, medication management, allied health support, personal care, domestic assistance, social support, meal preparation, transport and support with changes to memory and/or behaviour.
The Australian Government pays for the bulk of aged care in Australia. However, to receive help at home through the government’s home care packages you may need to contribute towards one or both of the following:
- A basic daily fee, which is a percentage of your aged pension
- A means-tested fee, payable if your income is over a certain amount
Once you’ve had an ACAT assessment, this will be sent to Centrelink, which will determine how much you will need to pay.
The maximum amount of income-tested care fees for home care you can be asked to pay is:
- $15.12 per day or $5,506.48 per year for people with income below $52,686.40 (Single person income rate)
- $30.25 per day or $11,012.99 per year for people with income above $52,686.40 (Single person income rate).
To access a home care package you will need to be assessed by an Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT). To arrange an aged care assessment, contact My Aged Care on 1800 200 422. Once you have been assessed as eligible for a Home Care Package, you will receive a confirmation letter from My Aged Care and placed on the national waitlist. Once you reach the top of the waitlist you will be able to select your preferred provider and start receiving your services.
The Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) provides entry-level support for older people who are still able to manage living at home, but could do with some extra assistance. Services are prescribed by a Regional Assessment Service (RAS).
Home Care Packages (HCP) provide higher levels of support for older people who have more complex needs. Recipients are able to select what services they want to use their funding on.
Are you currently exploring aged care options for yourself or a loved one? Find out more about navigating the system in this episode of Demystifying Aged Care.
We are here to help you
Home Care Services are available in the Perth metro area, Peel, South West, Great Southern and Wheatbelt regions through home care packages, private arrangement, or Veterans’ Home Care.
Request an info pack to receive more information about our home care services.
Ronald’s Story
“Thanks to the support I get from Baptistcare I can stay in the house I built in 1953; it’s where my life is, including my workshop, which is where I like to spend a lot of my time.
Being independent and living at home wouldn’t be possible without Baptistcare. Whatever help I need, Baptistcare provides it, whether it’s help with chores around the house, showering, or getting jobs done in the garden.
I’m happy at home; thanks to the wonderful team at Baptistcare I receive the help I need and I enjoy life.”
Ronald’s Story
“Thanks to the support I get from Baptistcare I can stay in the house I built in 1953; it’s where my life is, including my workshop, which is where I like to spend a lot of my time.
Being independent and living at home wouldn’t be possible without Baptistcare. Whatever help I need, Baptistcare provides it, whether it’s help with chores around the house, showering, or getting jobs done in the garden.
I’m happy at home; thanks to the wonderful team at Baptistcare I receive the help I need and I enjoy life.”