Article posted:Feb 6, 2011
Category: Home and Community Care
What is Home Care?
Surveys and research shows the majority of elderly residents are hoping to stay in their own homes for as long as possible before moving into residential aged care. Home Care is a service which is a half-way point between living at home and in residential aged care. Home Care can help elderly people by providing part-time services such as housework, meal preparation, medication aide et cetera. If you or someone you know may be interested in this type of service, then they will firstly need to have an Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) assessment. This assessment should be free of charge. After the assessment is done the individual will be placed in one of two categories, CACP (Community Aged Care Packages) or EACH (Extended Aged Care at Home).
If the individual is assessed into the CACP category, Home Care could provide the following services:
CACP services:
- medication
- cleaning/laundry
- cooking meals
- dressing
- transport
- gardening/social activities
- personal hygiene
When a person is placed into the EACH category over the CACP category, this means they require a higher level of care. If the individual has been placed in this category and is considering moving into residential aged care, then it would be likely that that person would require a high level of care at that facility.
EACH services include:
- Personal care
- Social support
- Transport to appointments
- Registered nurse care
- Allied health care
- Assistance with oxygen and/or enteral feeding
Home Care in Perth
In Perth Home Care can be found in all Perth regions. CACP and EACH care are available. You can search for Home Care Perth with the Home Care search engine.
F.A.Qs (Frequently Asked Questions)
What are the costs? Government versus Private Providers
If an ACAT/ASAS assessment is needed it will be free.
Government CACP and EACH Programs
The Government regulates and funds parts of the CACP and EACH programs.
Since the Government pays partially for these programs, it means that if you are placed in either the CACP or EACH packages and are earning the basic maximum pension rate, a fee of no more than 17.5% of your income can be charged. In cases where incomes exceed the maximum basic pension rate, fees cannot exceed more than 50% of your income.
Not-for-Profit Organisations and Private Providers
There are some not-for-profit organisations who also provide Home Care and therefore with a charitable reduction. There are also private providers which are sometimes in conjunction with government programs, however commercial rates do apply.
Where can I get an ACAT (Aged Care Assessment Team) assessment?
ACATs can be searched for at the Australian Government’s Department for Health and Ageing.
You can search by state and suburb or post code.
Useful Links
