Commonwealth Crack Down on Home Care Providers and Long Waiting Lists

Last night, the ABC’s 7:30 program aired a story about the long wait people needing a Home Care Package (HCP) could expect and the Government crackdown on providers who do not meet the standards of the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission.

The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission describes it’s role as a protector of the health and safety, well-being and quality of life for those receiving Australian Government funded aged care. The Commission also monitors and registers service providers subsidised by the Australian Government and has the power to place sanctions on providers who do not meet the Commission’’s standards. The Commision is also available to assist with any complaints you may have with your HCP provider.

According to the My Aged Care website: “A home care package is a coordinated package of care and services to help you to live independently in your own home for as long as you can.” If you do not already have a package, your first step is to register with My Aged Care who will assess your needs.

The Federal Government currently provide 23,000 packages a week and acknowledged this is not enough, while describing the situation as impossible to quickly fix. Another $1.8 billion has been committed in forward estimates to fund Home Care Packages.

If you’d like to view the 7:30 story, please follow the link and to read further reporting from the ABC on this story click here.

Other links you may find useful:

Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission

My Aged Care

Feeling Lonely? We can Help

Loneliness, we’ve all felt it at some stage in our life. In a world where we are more technologically connected than ever, many people including older Australians are finding themselves isolated and lonely.

It’s not just in Australia that loneliness has become a problem, in the UK the Government has appointed a Minister for Loneliness. The United States is also looking into the issue with research showing that about half of all Americans have reported feeling lonely at some stage.

Why has social isolation and loneliness become a problem? Our population is aging, and more people are finding themselves loosing lifetime partners or friends and developing conditions that limit their mobility. It’s not just older Australians who are feeling isolated, interestingly a recent study in America showed that it was also Gen Z (people aged between 18-22), a generation we consider to be the most connected who are increasingly finding themselves socially isolated.

So, what can you do about it if you are feeling lonely and need some company? Plenty. There are many groups and organisations set up to help the older members of our community feel more connected. Some suggestions are:

• Join a group. Why not try that painting class you’ve been thinking about? Join a book club or Men’s Shed

• Make a date. How about a regular coffee or lunch date with a friends or family? Or visit your neighbour for a cuppa

• Volunteer. There are many organisations looking for willing volunteers

• Make a call. Why not call that friend you haven’t spoken to for a while

• Get active. Commit to a weekly exercise class. Always wanted to know what Yoga was about? Well, now’s your chance

• Ask for help. If you’re finding yourself struggling to do the shopping or clean the house, speak to My Aged Care or the NDIS to see what funding you might be eligible for

Source: ABC and Better Homes and Gardens

BUDGET ANNOUNCEMENT: Homecare sector gets a massive boost

“Aged-care sector gets $1.6 billion to assist older Australians with services in their own homes”

The budget provides $1.6 billion over four years for 14,000 people to stay in their homes rather than nursing homes.

"Just because you're getting older does not mean you should surrender your dignity or your choices," Treasurer Scott Morrison said.

The funding boost means close to 74,000 people will be able to access home care packages by mid-2022.

The sector has been arguing for up to 25,000 extra places to deal with the backlog of people either waiting or using packages that do not have the full range of services they need.

A Government loans scheme to allow older people to borrow against some of the equity in their home will be extended.

That is an indication that older people will be expected to be prepared to cover some of the costs of living longer themselves, as well as relying on Government funding packages.

Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-05-08/budget-2018-aged-care-sector-gets-$1.6b-for-at-home-care/9740394

Choosing a home care provider…it’s about more than just money

Flexibility

Do you want a provider who employs their own direct care staff, one who has relationships with a range of service providers that they trust and regularly use or do you want to find your own care delivery staff and advise the home care provider of who you want?  Most providers will have a primary business model.  If you think that one particular option is better suited to you, ask the provider how they operate. 

Communication

Most home care providers will come to visit you in your home initially.  After that initial meeting, what do you need?  Are you confident that you can manage your care goals and needs and do most of your communication online? Some providers offer a low cost administration model based on you doing most of the leg work.   At the other end, if you have complex or changing needs or you prefer to build a long term personal relationship with someone who gets to know you and can assist you to anticipate your changing needs, you might want someone local to you who can give you regular face to face assistance. 

Quality

How do they monitor the skills & standards of their workers or contracted staff.  What is their feedback process?  What is the process if you are not happy with the service provider or staff who are delivering your services?

Fees and charges

Home care providers all have their own business and pricing models so understanding what the actual fees and charges are can be a challenge.  The percentage for core advisory or case management is just one fee to consider.  Also ask about entry and exit fees, booking and cancellation fees, limits on case management or other services  and what happens after the limits are reached.  Do they charge the daily care fee, under what circumstances it can be waived or put on hold and if it’s not being charged, for what term does this apply.

Service delivery costs

There can be significant variations in the cost of getting the same service into the home and getting quotes on some of the core services you will regularly be using will help to determine how many hours of direct care you might get.  Remember to weigh it up with booking and cancellation fees.

From self-managed options to a fully managed personal service model there a will be a home care provider that’s right for you.  Karista can help you to get accurate and relevant information to assist you to make the right choice for you.

What is important when searching for care for a loved one?

Whether you are looking for your child who has particular needs, or for your mum who is getting older and needs assistance with things at home, it is important to balance care with cost. It is without a doubt that care is most important but very few of us can afford to splash out testing and trying different services to understand what is best. So, reviews play a big part as does the quotation process. Karista allows carers to review providers, the services available and has implemented a star rating system. As the business is new it needs support from the community to get reviews. Help out your peers, or people like you, by rating your provider. Your opinion does matter, a review by you could mean the difference for the next person who is in a similar position to you. Search and review your provider in Melbourne or Geelong at www.karista.com.au

Search and review your provider

www.karista.com.au

Carer Community - Your reviews count

Making decisions about somebody else’s care needs is a huge responsibility and can be a daunting task.  Choosing a provider for someone who needs help at home, we know you’ve got their bests interests at heart but how do you know you are really making the right choice of provider?  It is such an important decision and one that will never be taken lightly. 

You can be safe in the knowledge that there are many others like you and we like to think that we might be able to help.  Karista is creating a community of likeminded people who share their experiences in order to help others make informed decisions.  We want to encourage you to take the time to provide feedback about your experience with providers you have used.  We also want you to use the ratings and reviews that others have provided to guide you in making the right decisions for your loved one. Karista wants to help you make informed decisions because we know how important your role is as a carer and we know how much you care.

You can find us on our website at www.karista.com.au