Home Care Packages

If you’re finding that everyday tasks are becoming more challenging as you grow older, there is help available so you can continue living comfortably in your own home as long as possible.

The Australian Commonwealth Government provides funding for in-home care services to ensure you receive the right care and support to make life at home a little easier to manage.

Heywood Rural Health (HRH) is a recognised leader of in-home aged care services and provides Home Care Packages to a number of towns and communities including Heywood, Portland, Heathmere, Bolwarra, Cashmore, Allestree, Narrawong, Tyrendarra, Dartmoor, Greenwald and Drumborg.

Our team of highly qualified, skilled and compassionate staff will work closely with you to customise a home care package that suites your needs.

Your package is flexible and can be modified at any time when your life circumstances change.

What home care services are available through Heywood Rural Health?

In-home care and support services are all about supporting your health and well-being, maximising your independence and enabling you to stay at home for a long as possible and interact with your community.

Services offered through HRH Home Care Packages include, but are not limited to:

• Domestic Assistance: to provide support with household tasks in and around your home. This includes laundry, cleaning the bathroom, mopping floors, lawn mowing and basic home modifications to enhance your safety and independence.
• Accompanied transport: To enable you to attend medical appointments, shop for groceries and participate in social activities.
• Personal care: including showering or bathing and dressing.
• Home based nursing services:  Such as District Nursing, to provide you with short term care, with the support of your Doctor.
• Allied health and therapy services.
• Other clinical services and assistance: hearing and vision services.
• Case management: in partnership we coordinate your service choices and preferences.

How do I seek Assistance?

You should seek assistance if you have:

• Noticed a change in what you can do or remember.
• Been diagnosed with a medical condition.
• Having increased difficulty getting out and about; and/or
• A change in your support network, such as changes to or care arrangements

Eligibility and your level of support will be determined after being assessed by the Aged Care Assessment team.

To determine eligibility the first step is to contact the Commonwealth My Aged Care service by either calling My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 or applying for an assessment online.

• If you call, you will be asked questions to help work out your needs and care arrangements – this will take at least ten minutes.

• You (or someone acting on your behalf) can also apply for an assessment on the My Aged Care website at https://www.myagedcare.gov.au/assessment/apply-online – please note this can take up to 15-20 minutes but is able to be completed at time convenient to you

Alternatively, if you need help with seeking assistance, please make contact with our Aged Care Services Advisor on 5527 0576 and we will support you through the process.

Upon application and depending on your assessed needs, you may receive in-home care services through either the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) or via Home Care Package (HCP).

1. CHSP is considered as entry level care and as such offers basic in-home care services. Fortunately, HRH is an approved CHSP provider, and you are welcome to make contact with us to talk about our CHSP services: Telephone us on 5527 0555 and select option 3 CHSP to talk with our friendly CHSP team. 
2. A Home Care Package (HCP) is for those who require more care than offered by CHSP.

The Commonwealth provides four levels of Home Care Packages providing the necessary funds to support you with care and services that suit your needs. Once approved for a Home Care Package via a letter from the Commonwealth you are encouraged to make contact with us on 5527 0555 (select option 4 Home Care Packages) and talk with a member of the HCP team on how we can best meet your needs.

Fees:
HRH Care Management

Care Management is an essential key component of every Home Care Package.  It ensures you receive appropriate support to meet your individual needs, both now and into the future. This may include coordination and scheduling services, ensuring your care is aligned with other supports and designing a care plan to meet all your needs (with regular review). 

Level	Cost	Approx no. hours fortnightly
Level 1	$81.20	1 hour
Level 2	$142.80	2 hours
Level 3	$310.80	3 hours
Level 4	$471.24	4 hours

HRH Package Management

HRH does not charge a client contribution fee however non-pensioners may be required to pay an Income Tested Fee as assessed by Centrelink.

Level	Cost
Level 1	$40.60
Level 2	$71.40
Level 3	$155.40
Level 4	$235.62

Contact Us:

Our Home Care Packages team welcomes enquiries about Heywood Rural can help you.

Please contact our friendly team if you would like further information, on either:

Phone: (03) 5527 0555 (select option 4: Home Care Packages)

Email: hcpp@heywoodruralhealth.vic.gov.au