We're building the new In-Home Aged

Care program for older Australians

Want to know more?

The ageing Australian population wants to remain living at home for as long as possible, with an increasing preference for support in-place rather than residential aged care.

The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety has served to confirm and reinforce this preference.​

Welcome to our Building a new in-home aged care program site where we get to provide you with the latest updates on key program elements. 

Review your area of interest to get a clear understanding of the work that has been done to date on that program element, some elements may seek feedback, some may be for information, all are to provide you with the latest work we have done to build a new in-home aged care program.

What are the challenges in building a new in-home aged care program?

​The needs of an increasing population of older Australians will have to be met in the context of compounding pressures such as maturation of retirement income policy, people are healthier, and national debt reduction. ​

These pressures make it essential to maximise the value of in-home aged care.​

​Improvements to aged care access and quality must be accompanied by an increased focus on prevention and independence, a better alignment of services to needs, and a more sustainable aged care sector with costs shared fairly between government and care recipients.​

Why build a new in-home aged care program?

The current investment in Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) and Home Care Packages (HCP) are not maximising outcomes.

• Assessment is inconsistent and not client-focused
• Access to services is not timely for many people
• Multiple programs hinder coherent support for ageing
• Clients may not have an optimal mix of services
• Too much aged care funding doesn’t get spent
• Prices are not consistent or efficient

What we are attempting to deliver for older people and the sector?

We want the new program to be easy to enter wth timely and meaniful assessments providing fast access to providers, equipment, advice, allied health services, and most importantly the flexibility to change as your needs evolve.

• Easy entry 

  Clients contact My Aged Care through multiple channels – GPs, online, call-center, shopfront, Care Finder, Trusted Indigenous Facilitator.​

  Much easier to understand that there is one assessment service and one in-home aged care program.

• Timely, meaningful assessment​

  Assessments are done quickly (any organisation with delays will have assessments reassigned).​

  Assessors are trained to observe and interact during assessment using a new tool that delivers consistent outcomes. ​

  Support plans refer for short term supports and list ongoing services.​

  No more waiting for a means test – fees are by service type based on pension status.​

• Fast access to equipment, home modifications, advice and allied health​

  Advisory services will on dementia, vision loss, continence and hearing will be available nationally when people need them​

  A new goods equipment assistive technology and home modification scheme will provide fast access to supports to stay independent.​

  Access to intensive allied health services provided to people who could benefit from intensive support.

• Fast, informed access to providers​

  Within a month of assessment, older Australians can use their Aged Care ID to book one or multiple providers – no more access codes. ​

  More choice of providers and quality indicators will help people choose who to deliver their services, or My Aged Care can refer to providers directly.​

  Those in a retirement village may chose to pool their budget with a single provider for shared services (like an on-staff nurse). 

• High quality services without high administrative charges​

  Service providers will be focussed on quality services for clients or risk scoring badly against quality indicators. ​

  With price caps set by Government, including admin costs, there will be no excessive admin fees.​

  Fair consumer contributions will be paid at an hourly rate for each service delivered, so people can see what their money is buying.

• Flexibility to adjust support as needs change​

  Older people will be able to adjust their services within a budget as needed.​

  When additional temporary support is needed, service providers will have funding for that purpose. ​

  When there is a permanent change, reassessment will be with the same provider. Higher levels of care will be available than today to defer the need for residential care (pending research).