Arming the Elderly with More Choices

Aging Australians are living longer and healthier lives than ever before and the Government now recognises the need to arm the elderly with more personal choice – on where they live, what type of care they receive, what it costs and who they receive care from.

The changes to the Consumer Directed Care policy (CDC) this year,  sets out the ability for the funds paid out annually in home care assistance to now be allocated directly to the consumer.

THE CHOICE IS YOURS

In the past, Government funding for your home care assistance was directed straight to the hands of the approved providers that deliver your required in-home service ‘package’, and the same provider would deliver all the services you needed. Now the funds will come to you – allowing you to choose who will assist with nursing care, dressing and showering, shopping, transportation, cleaning or even gardening. For example, if there is one provider you want to help with showering and another to help with shopping, these services can be split.

In the past, changing care providers would mean you forfeit any unspent funds with that provider. The new CDC policy will now allow you to decide how and where the funds are spent and ensure the remaining funds can be used for another provider.

As the new policy is slowly being introduced, the management of your funds will remain with your existing care provider, but you can direct how those funds are spent, and with whom. It is now your choice to either continue to use all their services, or to let them know that you wish to utilise the services of another provider. During this interim period, it is up to your existing provider to manage the paperwork and the payments, but they should ensure you are involved in that process.

SEE HOW YOUR HOME CARE FUNDS ARE SPENT

For the first time, you will also be able to see exactly how much money the Government is spending on the services you receive, and this may allow you to negotiate better rates with alternate providers. You can essentially now receive more care hours out of the same fund allocation.

It’s an initiative designed to put the power back in your hands as the consumer and allow you to make your own choices.

For more information on the reform please visit https://agedcare.health.gov.au/aged-care-reform/home-care/home-care-packages-reform

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