Australia’s Support at Home programme aids seniors in receiving care at home, reflecting a growing desire for ageing in place.
With people ageing, the desire to remain in the comfort of our own homes often becomes more important than ever. In Australia, the federal government has recognised this need and is developing a new care programme, the Support at Home programme to help seniors receive the care they need while ageing in place.
In this blog, we’ll delve into the mechanics of this new programme and explore the current options in Australia for home care support while this is still in the final preparations for rollout. Additionally, we’ll highlight the numerous benefits of home care support for seniors who wish to age in place.
Support at Home An Overview
The Support at Home Programme (SHP) is a federal government initiative aimed at providing in-home care and support services for older Australians. Designed in response to recommendations set forth by the Aged Care Royal Commission, the programme enables seniors to continue living independently in their own homes while receiving the assistance they need to maintain quality of life.
The federal government set the Support at Home Programme’s deployment date to 1 July 2025. The object is to buy stakeholders extra time to further define the mechanics of the Programme and migrate all relevant data to My Aged Care.
Let’s take a closer look at the programme.
Assessment
The Support at Home Programme will assess patients via a new Single Assessment System to be rolled out on 1 July 2024. Using a new Integrated Assessment Tool, the System will grade a person’s viability to be part of the Programme.
Individualised Care Plans
The above assessment will help SHP evaluators with structuring the member’s personalised care plan. This plan outlines the specific services and support required, such as personal care, meal preparation, medication management, assistive technology and home modifications (AT-HM), or assistance with household tasks. The SHP will also account for the seniors’ quarterly budgets and classifications based on the Home Care Packages’ four tiers.
Service Providers
The SHP will have a single care provider in charge of procuring and delivering the senior’s needs.
Subsidised Services
The SHP will have options for ongoing services, with a special list currently under development.
As part of the service offerings, the SHP will have a short-term reablement support arm designed to aid seniors who might be able to reduce reliance on ongoing services and improve their own independence as they age in place. This will have three major elements
- AT-HM. The Assistive Technology and Home Modifications (AT-HM) Scheme, slated for rollout with the SHP on 1 July 2025, will be a separately-funded component to finance home modifications and assistive-tech devices, plus integrated tech support, as prescribed by a healthcare practitioner. An SHP senior’s AT-HM funding options will be based on their overall programme assessment.
- Restorative Care. The SHP’s Restorative Care Pathway offers a 12-week rehab programme to help a senior regain strength and physical capacity that may have been affected by a recent medical emergency. The Pathway is being touted as a successor to the current Short-Term Restorative Care Programme (STRC), whose duration is eight weeks.
- End-of-Life. The SHP is developing an “End-of-Life Pathway” to help terminally-ill seniors by increasing their palliative care support options.
Monitoring and Review
Regular reviews are conducted to ensure that the care plan remains appropriate and that the senior’s needs are being met effectively. Adjustments can be made as required. The SHP provider’s invoices will be billed to the federal government based on the senior’s ongoing services budget as laid in the assessment and their short-term support finances, plus the provider’s own care management kitty.
Thin-Market Grants
The Department of Health and Aged Care is angling for special SHP grants of three to five years, with the intention of extending SHP services to so-called “thin markets.” These include certain ethnic communities, First Nations communities, Modified Monash areas labelled MM III to MM VII, and registered sites with less than 500 SHP members as residents. Officials are already consulting First Nations elders with how the services may be rendered to elderly members with respect to their customs. The AIHW noted that First Nations communities in Australia have had chronic problems accessing healthcare services.
Options for Home Care Support
While Support at Home is being given additional development time, there are options for home care support in Australia, each catering to different needs and preferences
Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP)
CHSP provides entry-level support services for older Australians, including assistance with daily tasks, transport, social activities, and more. It is designed to help seniors maintain their independence and wellbeing. The government started migrating data for CHSP beneficiaries with no My Aged Care profiles starting July 2023.
Home Care Packages (HCP)
HCPs offer a higher level of care and support, including services such as nursing care, mobility aids, and allied health services. There are four levels of HCPs, each providing a different level of support to meet varying care needs. The FY24 budget has new funds to provide support for an extra 9,500 HCP patients.
Private Home Care Providers
Some seniors choose to engage private home care providers who offer personalised care services tailored to their specific requirements. These providers often offer a more personalised approach to care.
Short-Term Restorative Care Programme
The STRCP offers support services spread over eight weeks to help delay or reverse seniors’ functional decline, whether they are living at home or in an aged-care facility.
The HCP and the STRCP will be discontinued on 30 June 2025, and all their beneficiaries will be put under Support at Home, with assessments carried out by then. The CHSP was originally slated to be closed down and transitioned to Support at Home on the same day, but has been marked for final closure by 1 July 2027.
Benefits of Home Care Support for Seniors
Choosing home care support offers numerous advantages for seniors who wish to age in place.
Independence and Familiarity
Home care enables seniors to remain in the comfort of their own homes, surrounded by familiar surroundings and cherished memories.
Tailored Care
Care plans can be personalised to address the unique needs and preferences of each individual, ensuring they receive the support they require.
Quality of Life
Home care services enhance seniors’ quality of life by providing assistance with daily tasks, promoting social engagement, and addressing physical and mental health needs.
Safety and Wellbeing
Seniors receive the care and support they need to stay safe, manage chronic conditions, and prevent accidents or injuries.
Emotional Wellbeing
Ageing in place with home care support reduces the risk of social isolation and loneliness, promoting emotional wellbeing and mental health.
Cost-Effective
The subsidies provided through government programmes like Support at Home make home care a cost-effective option for many seniors.
Conclusion
Ageing in place with the support of home care services is a viable and appealing option for many seniors in Australia. The federal government’s Support at Home programme which will supersede other home care options like CHSP and HCPs, provides a range of services to meet the diverse needs of older Australians.
These programmes not only ensure that seniors receive the care they need but also empower them to maintain their independence, dignity, and quality of life in the familiar surroundings of their own homes. As the demand for home care services continues to grow, Australia is making significant strides in providing comprehensive support for seniors who wish to age in place.
The A.S.A.G. Reverse Mortgage
The A.S.A.G. Reverse Mortgage may aid with funding seniors determined to age in place, including those eligible under SHP. A Home Care solution can be accessed to cover certain home living options not included in a SHP senior’s available list, plus shoulder other miscellaneous expenses.
Call the A.S.A.G. at 1300 002 724 or send an email to info@asagfirst.com.au to discuss your aged-care financing. You can also use the equity assessment tool below.