How to choose a Home Care Package provider: A complete guide
If you want to stay in your own home as you age, you’re not alone. Most Australians prefer to age in place, and Home Care Packages can make that possible.
Key takeaways
- Choosing a Home Care Package provider starts with knowing your needs – from personal care to allied health services and cultural preferences.
- Compare providers based on services, fees, and flexibility.
- Ask the right questions to ensure your provider aligns with your values, communicates well, and meets all aged care quality standards.
What is a Home Care Package provider?
A Home Care Package provider is an approved organisation that delivers aged care services to older Australians who want to remain in their own homes. These providers manage government-funded Home Care Packages, coordinating and delivering services such as personal care, domestic help, nursing, and allied health. Providers, such as Five Good Friends, may offer both full service and self-managed options, allowing flexibility in how involved you want to be in organising your care.
Home Care Package providers: The essentials
Once you’ve been approved for a Home Care Package through My Aged Care, it’s time to choose your home care provider. Australia’s consumer-directed care model gives you the freedom to select who delivers your services and how they are provided. But with many Home Care Package providers available, how do you choose the right one?
This guide outlines how to compare Home Care Package providers, what to look for, and which questions to ask.
Identify what you need from your home care provider
During your My Aged Care assessment, you likely discussed your health, lifestyle, and daily living needs. Based on that, you might require:
- Personal care (showering, toileting)
- Domestic assistance (cleaning, gardening)
- Allied health services (physiotherapy, occupational therapy)
- Clinical care (wound care, catheter management)
- Social support and transport
Make a checklist of the essential services you require and your preferences. Do you need carers who speak your language or understand your cultural background? Would you prefer a provider offering self-managed Home Care Packages?
Knowing what you want makes it easier to compare Home Care Package providers effectively.
Compare home care providers
To find the best fit for your circumstances, you can:
- Use the comparison tool on the My Aged Care website
- Create your own comparison table with key criteria
Consider the following:
- Pricing for each service, including nursing, personal care and domestic support
- Fees: daily fees, care management fees, exit fees
- Available services and specialisations
- Language and cultural support
- Ratings, reviews, and compliance with Aged Care Quality Standards
You can also use the non-compliance checker to ensure providers meet the national quality requirements.
Contact potential home care providers
Once you've shortlisted home care providers, set up meetings to ask important questions. Use video calls, phone chats, or in-person visits. Consider bringing a family member or carer for support.
Ask each provider key questions, such as:
- Will I have a dedicated team I can speak with, as required?
- Can I choose the person who will provide me with care/support?
- How do you choose the person who will care for me?
- Will I see the same carers each day/week?
- What happens if I don’t like the person caring for me?
- What qualifications do your carers have?
- How often will my care plan be reviewed?
- How are you different from other service providers?
- Do you offer private and government-funded services?
- Do you offer self-managed and fully managed services? What is the difference?
- What are the costs involved?
- What does a package budget look like?
- Do you have any past or present sanctions, and how have they been dealt with?
- Will you update me on unspent funds so I can spend my allocated budget each year?
These questions will help you determine which home care provider aligns best with your needs and expectations.
Choose a home care provider
When you are thinking about choosing a home care provider, it’s vital that you consider every touch point. How did they make you feel in that initial conversation? Did you feel supported? Was it easy to set up an appointment? Did you feel like they answered all your questions?
You will be in regular contact with your Home Care Package provider, so it’s essential that they make you feel welcome and supported at all times throughout your journey.
Once the government has approved you for a Home Care Package, you can officially choose your provider and receive your Home Care Agreement. This legal document will explain what funds are available for your use and will break down the government’s contribution and your contribution (including the basic daily fee, income-tested fees and any other fees).
It's essential to ensure you fully understand this agreement before signing it. If you need some help, you can speak to a loved one or find an independent advocate through the National Aged Care Advocacy Program.
Need help choosing a home care provider?
Interested in learning more about home care? At Five Good Friends, we empower people to maintain a quality lifestyle on their terms. Book a consult and learn how we can help you navigate your options and take the stress out of managing your day-to-day care.