There are four government funded programs that support frail older people to remain living at home for as long as possible:

• Home and Community Care (HACC)
• Veteran's Home Care (VHC)
• Community Aged Care Packages
• Extended Aged Care at Home (EACH)

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Respite Care

What is the Home and Community Care Program?

This program is funded jointly by the Australian and South Australian governments. The HACC program funds a range of organisations to provide basic home support services including:

Some of these services are provided by organisations that are ‘household names’ like Meals on Wheels, Domiciliary Care SA and Royal District Nursing Service. Local councils and community health services in country areas are also providers of home support services as well as a number of not-for-profit organisations covering a limited region or the entire metropolitan area.

Service providers may assess you to see if you meet their eligibility criteria. There may be a waiting list for some services.

So how do you find out what is available in your area? Contact Seniors Information Service, tel. 8168 8776, 1800 636 368 (free call SA country callers) or your nearest Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre, tel. 1800 052 222 (free call national).

If you have concerns about a HACC service, speak to the provider first. If the issues are still unresolved the Aged Rights Advocacy Service can provide information about your rights and advocate on your behalf. Tel. 8232 5377 or 1800 700 600 (free call SA country callers). To register a complaint contact Office of the Health & Community Services Complaints Commissioner,
tel. 1800 232 007 (free call South Australia), 8226 8666. 

What is Veterans Home Care?

The VHC is funded by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) to provide basic home support services for eligible veterans and war widows.

Services may include personal care, domestic assistance, home and garden maintenance and respite care.
Veterans can choose to receive services through the HACC program OR the VHC. Veterans who are in receipt of VHC can only receive a HACC funded service if that service is unavailable through the VHC.

Eligibility is based on assessed need. To arrange an assessment, tel. 1300 550 450 (local call cost national; connectable from landline only).

What are packages of care?

Packages of care include a range of home support services that are tailored to meet your individual needs. The service provider coordinates the package of services for you. They are intended for frail older people living at home who have complex care needs.
The Australian Government provides a subsidy to approved service providers to supply and coordinate the care services.

How could a care package help you?

The service provider designs the care package in consultation with you and/or your family or carer to suit your particular requirements.

Packages are flexible and may include assistance with: personal hygiene and dressing, domestic tasks, preparing meals, shopping, transport, gardening and social support.

The service provider will develop a written ‘care plan’ with you, setting out the services to be provided. They will give you a written agreement that clearly sets out your rights and responsibilities and those of the provider. The service provider will regularly check to see if your ‘care plan’ is still meeting your needs as your needs may change over time.

What types of care packages are available?

Community Aged Care Packages (CACP)
Provide care to frail older people whose needs would make them eligible for a low care facility (hostel) but who wish to remain at home. A CACP package typically provides up to 5 hours of support each week.

Extended Aged Care at Home (EACH)
These packages provide care to frail older people who have been assessed as needing high level residential (nursing home) care, but have expressed a preference to live at home and are able to do so.

An EACH package typically provides around 17 hours of assistance each week. Like CACPs, packages include a range of home support services with the addition of qualified nursing care.

EACH Dementia Packages
Provide care to frail older people with dementia and complex high care needs associated with their dementia, similar to the general EACH packages. Additional services and specific approaches related to the special needs of someone with dementia will be considered. This may include support for behaviours of concern.

Lists of Care Package providers

How do I find out if I am eligible?

To be eligible for any of the packages of care, your care needs must first be assessed by an Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT). The assessment is free of charge. In the metropolitan area contact the Adelaide ACAT on 1300 296 738. For country ACAT details contact the Seniors Information Service or your local community health service or hospital.

A member of the ACAT will visit you to determine if you are eligible and which type of care package is the most suitable for you. The team will decide if your care needs can be met within the scope and funding of the program and that you have a genuine desire to remain at home .

If you are eligible, the ACAT will explain the application and will either forward a copy to a package program coordinator in your area, or give you phone numbers of local providers.

How much will I have to pay?

Fees are negotiated between you and the provider. If you are a pensioner they must not exceed 17.5% of the maximum basic rate of pension. Income does not include pharmaceutical allowance, rent assistance, telephone allowance or a pension supplement.

If your income exceeds the basic rate of pension, the maximum fee is 17.5% of your income to the level of the basic pension, plus up to 50% of income above the basic pension. Care recipients cannot be charged more than they can reasonably afford to pay.

What are my rights if I receive a CACP or EACH package?

Your rights include:

• being involved in deciding which care services are best for your needs
• being able to take part in social activities and community activities as you wish
• being treated with dignity and respect
• the ability to complain about the services you receive without fear of losing services or being disadvantaged in any way
• choosing a person to speak on your behalf for any reason.

The Aged Rights Advocacy Service can provide information about your rights and help you resolve your concerns. Tel. 8232 5377 or 1800 700 600 (free call SA country callers).

What about complaints?

If you are not happy with the services provided, you have the right to complain. If you have spoken to the package provider and the issues are still unresolved, you can contact the Aged Care Complaints Investigation Scheme on 1800 550 552 (free call national). This is a free service.