Aged Care Home Care Packages

An aged-care home package is a government-funded service that supports older Australians who wish to continue living in their homes while receiving care. Our aged-care at-home packages suit various levels of care, from basic needs to more advanced support. The goal is to help seniors live independently while providing them with the care and assistance they require.

Setting up home care packages can be overwhelming, but we’re here to guide you. Our team can help you navigate the options and ensure you receive the support you need.

There are four levels of aged-care home packages, each catering to different needs:

• Level 1: Basic care needs
• Level 2: Low-level care needs
• Level 3: Intermediate care needs
• Level 4: High-level care needs
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The flexibility of these aged-care at home packages allows for a tailored approach, guaranteeing that every individual receives the right level of care for their personal situation.

Eligibility for home care packages in Melbourne depends on your age and care needs. Generally, you must be:

• 65 years or older (50 years or older for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people)
• Require assistance with daily tasks due to a disability, medical condition, or frailty.

Note: If you are on a low income, homeless or at risk of being homeless, and aged 50 years or older (45 years or older for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people), please call the My Aged Care contact center on 1800 200 422 to discuss your situation.

You may be eligible if you have:

• Noticed a change in what you can do or remember
• Been diagnosed with a medical condition or reduced mobility.
• Experienced a change in family care arrangements, or
• Experienced a recent fall or hospital admission.

To get the process started, you will need to contact My Aged Care. They will ask you a series of questions about the difficulties you are having with tasks at home. They may send someone out to assess you for services.

Once you have done this, you’ll receive a series of letters from My Aged Care as your application is processed. The following is a brief explanation of these letters and what will happen at each step.

You’ll receive this letter after you have registered with My Aged Care to apply for a Home Care Package.

This letter is important because it includes your unique aged care ID. Whenever you speak to staff at My Aged Care or a home care service provider (such as People First Healthcare), this ID will be used to confirm your identity.

What next?

• You will receive a visit from the Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT), also known as the Aged Care Assessment Service (ACAS) in Victoria.
• The purpose of this visit is to assess what kinds of services you need to help you live independently at home.

You’ll receive this letter after your ACAT/ACAS assessment, if you’re eligible for a Home Care Package. Be aware that this may take up to 8 weeks following your assessment.
This letter:

• Confirms that you have been approved for a Home Care Package
• Tells you that you’re now on the waiting list to have a Home Care Package assigned to you
• May contain a list of referral codes for aged care services, which you’ll need once your Home Care Package is ready to access and use.

What next?

• You’re now on the waiting list for assignment of a Home Care Package.
• While you are waiting, you have the option of accessing our home care services. Call 03 9402 9533 for more information.

You’ll receive this letter around 90 days before the expected assignment of your Home Care Package. The purpose of this letter is to encourage you to prepare for your package assignment, e.g. by finding an approved care provider and arranging an income assessment with the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).

This letter will also ask you to opt out of the waiting list (by contacting My Aged Care) if you no longer want to receive a Home Care Package.

What next?

• Home Care Packages are income-tested, so you will need to have a formal income assessment. Contact DHHS Victoria to arrange this.
• Please note that you will only be asked to pay an income-tested fee if your income exceeds the pension amount.
• To discuss how we can meet your care needs as an approved provider, call 03 9402 9533.

This letter confirms that you can now use your Home Care Package, and explains the level of package you have been assigned. There are four package levels, ranging from Level 1 (basic care needs) through to Level 4 (high-level care needs).

IMPORTANT: Once you receive this letter, you will have 56 days to start using your package. If you don’t start using your package within this time, your funding will expire. However, you can request a 28-day extension by calling My Aged Care or we can do this for you.

What next?

• Now that your funding is approved, you need to enter into a home care agreement with your chosen provider.
• We can make this easy for you. Call 03 9402 9533 and we’ll arrange a visit to your home to set up a care plan that meets your individual needs.
• If you need a 28-day extension, call us on 03 9402 9533 or contact My Aged Care. This will ensure that you don’t lose your funding.