What's changing about living in your home longer?

In last month’s article, we took a high-level look at what is changing with residential aged care come 1 July 2025. 

The Government’s objective is to focus on increasing the quality, accountability and long-term viability of the aged care system.  

Instead of an extra tax paid by younger workers, or a Medicare-style levy, the Government decided that new people entering the aged care sector would need to contribute more towards their care services. 

Now we turn our attention to what is changing in the home care world … and let me tell you, there is plenty of changes coming.  Some of these changes are already locked; whilst other changes are still be thrashed out by the industry.

Let’s look at some of the high-level changes that will impact you living in your home longer.

From 1 July 2025, the home care program will be renamed the Support at Home Program.  The current four (4) funding levels of home care packages will be replaced by eight (8) funding levels plus a Restorative Care Pathway and End-of-Life Pathway.  The current Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) will continue until 1 July 2027 when it will transition to the Support at Home Program … it may be in the “too hard” basket?

The Support at Home funds will be paid quarterly and held on your behalf by Services Australia (I had to read that more than once).  Home care providers will invoice Services Australia to be paid for home care services provided to you. The home care provider will be paid 10% of your budget for care management services and there are some limits on how much money can roll into the next quarter as the Government want to see you use the funding for services and not accumulate in an “unused funds” basket.  The home care provider will then invoice you to be paid via a direct debit facility (most probably).

The Government will introduce a defined service list (yet to be fully agreed and released) which will be divided into three (3) categories – clinical care, independence support and everyday living.

In all packages, clinical (health and body) care is 100% funded by the Government … BUT the “other” living costs of services like meals, transport, social support, cleaning and gardening will need to be “contributed to” by you.

The full details regarding exactly how much you will contribute towards your home care services have not yet been released … but the amount(s) will be linked to your age pension status.  In other words, self-funded retirees will pay more than full- or part-age pensioners.

The Government is still the major contributor to aged care but people are now being asked to contribute more to their own care if they have the ability to do so.  However, anyone “already in the aged care system” (there are definitions around what this means) will be no worse off and not subject to new rules.

Simple?  The Government hopes so and expect it will also reduce the current long wait times from assessment to service funding arriving.  I recently read a Frequently Asked Questions document prepared by the Government Minister’s Office which comprised 30 pages – I had a splitting headache by page 11 … so I’ll believe simple, faster and better when I see it.

Family Aged Care Advocates guide you and your family through this ever-changing aged care maze so you can clearly understand what all these changes exactly mean for your particular situation. Mistakes or misunderstandings can be stressful, time-consuming and costly to fix. Feel free to give us a call on 0411 264 002 or visit us at www.familyagedcareadvocates.com.au