Under Support at Home you will be able to access a coordinated package of care and services, suitable for those with more complex care needs, where you may need many care and support services on to remain living independently at home.
The Support at Home program offers:
- eight classifications (funding levels) for ongoing support services, with the highest funding level providing up to around $78,000 per year;
- Additional funded pathways to access:
- assistive products, equipment and home modifications;
- support to maintain and improve your independence through multidisciplinary allied health services;
- dedicated funding for services to remain at home in your last 3 months of life.
Ongoing services
Support at Home offers a wide range of ongoing support services so you can continue to live well at home. Based on your aged care assessment and eligibility, you will have access to an approved list of services. You will be supported to choose the mix of services you can access within your budget.
This includes support for:
- Clinical supports – such as nursing care, occupational therapy and continence care.
- Independence – such as help with showering, getting dressed, taking medications, transport or respite care.
- Everyday living – such as cleaning, gardening, shopping or meal preparation.
You can request to change the mix of services you access from the approved list at any time with your provider, who will support you to make sure the services you receive meet your needs.
Restorative Care Pathway
The Restorative Care Pathway will help you stay independent, reduce the need for more services and support you in doing the activities you enjoy. Under the Restorative Care Pathway, you may:
- have access to up to 12 weeks of restorative care,
- access restorative care services alongside any Support at Home services you already receive,
- receive an extra budget of about $6,000 (or up to $12,000 if required) for multidisciplinary allied health services,
- have access to assistive technology and home modifications through the Assistive Technology and Home Modifications (AT‑HM) Scheme if needed.
Assistive Technology and Home Modifications (AT-HM) Scheme
The Assistive Technology and Home Modifications (AT-HM) Scheme will give you access to products, equipment and/or home modifications to meet your assessed needs.
If you are eligible for the AT-HM Scheme, after your aged care assessment, you can access up to $15,000 for home modifications and $15,000 for assistive technology.
End-of-Life Pathway
The End-of-Life Pathway will support you to remain at home in your last three months of life. You can be referred for a high-priority assessment to access the End-of-Life Pathway, even if you’re not already receiving services under Support at Home. Under the End-of-Life Pathway, you will:
- have urgent access to a higher level of in-home aged care services
if you have three months or less to live, - have access to assistive technology through the Assistive Technology and Home Modifications (AT-HM) Scheme if needed,
- receive funding of up to $25,000 over a three month period, with 16 weeks to use the funds to provide more flexibility.
Budgets and unspent funds
Support at Home will have eight ongoing service classifications (levels of funding), each with a budget for you to access services.
Your Support at Home classification for ongoing services and approval for short-term pathways, assistive technology and/or home modifications is determined during your aged care assessment. You can request a re-assessment if your needs change.
This assessment informs a quarterly budget, based on your needs, that you and your provider manage.
If you don’t spend your budget each quarter, you can carry over unspent funds of $1,000 or 10% of your quarterly budget (whichever is greater).
Assistive technology and/or home modifications through the AT‑HM Scheme are not budgeted quarterly, but provide a funding level which can be accessed for a longer time period.
Contributions
Under Support at Home, you will only pay contributions to the services you have received.
Contribution rates will vary by the type of service received and your income and assets. The Age Pension means test will be used to determine the means tested percentage contribution, and Commonwealth Seniors Health Card holders will pay lower contributions than other self-funded retirees.
- You will make no contribution for clinical support services (such as nursing and physiotherapy).
- You will make a moderate contribution for independence services (such as personal care), and products and equipment under the AT‑HM Scheme.
- You will make a higher contribution for everyday living services (such as domestic help, meal preparation and gardening).
Care management
You will have access to care management, which supports you to get the best outcomes from your aged care services.
If you receive ongoing services, you will have 10% of your quarterly budget set aside with your provider to deliver care management.
This amount will be the same even if you choose to self-manage your services.
Getting started
The first step to access government-funded aged care services is to check your eligibility for an assessment. You can do this online at My Aged Care, or by calling 1800 200 422.
If your application is successful, you will be referred for an assessment. Assessments are done in person, at your own home.
When assessed as eligible for the Support at Home program, you will receive a Notice of Decision and an individual support plan to share with your provider. This will contain:
- a summary of your aged care needs and goals,
- a classification with an associated ongoing quarterly budget and a list of your approved services; and/or
- an approval for short-term supports, which may include a budget for assistive technology, home modifications, Restorative Care Pathway (for example, intensive allied health services), and/or End-of-Life Pathway.
