The Support at Home program (SAH) is designed to improve how older Australians can access and receive home care. Replacing the existing Home Care Packages, the reforms focus on flexibility, efficiency, and tailored support, with easier entry and improvements that will better suit individual needs. Prestige Inhome Care looks at five major changes under Support at Home and what they will mean for you.
- NEW FUNDING LEVELS
The current four levels of HCP will increase to:
- 8 ongoing Support at Home funding classifications
- 2 short-term care pathways (Restorative Care Pathway and the End-of-Life Pathway)
- There are also 3 funding tiers for assistive technology and home modifications, which come under the new Assistive Technology and Home Modification Scheme.
What this means for participants:
- Classification levels that better target the aged care needs of participants, with the ability to be re-assessed into higher levels as their needs change.
- Increased funding levels for participants with higher needs (highest level increase from $ 62,014 to $78,000).
- Existing HCP clients will retain the level of funding of their approved HCP until they are reassessed and receive their Support at Home Classification Level.
- NEW ASSESSMENT PROCESS AND TOOL
Older people will be assessed for SAH through the new Single Assessment System using the Integrated Assessment Tool or IAT. The new assessment changes will reduce assessment steps and remove confusion caused by some applicants having to deal with multiple assessment organisations.
The IAT will cover assessment for all types of support, including respite, flexible programs and in-home aged care, and retain all the information if needs change. A more thorough information collection process during assessments will more accurately inform what services applicants need. The IAT will trigger and adjust questions, and dive deeper in information collection, depending on responses.
What this means for participants:
- The new Single Assessment System will collect more information and hopefully eliminate the need to repeat the process for other organisations involved in the provision of Support at Home.
- Those applicants currently on a waiting list for assessments should retain their place on their current waitlist. Their application process will not be disrupted, and they will hold their position.
- ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY AND HOME MODIFICATIONS SCHEME
Home modifications and products and equipment that support your life, will no longer be funded under your package, but instead funded separately through the new Assistive Technology and Home Modifications Scheme or AT-HM. A participant’s eligibility for the Scheme will be assessed using the IAT during their SAH assessment.
There are three main funding tiers ($500 – $15k p.a) for assistive technology and three funding tiers for home modifications.
AT-HM funding can cover:
- Products and equipment
- Home modifications
- Prescriptions (where approved)
- Wrap-around services, eg. funds could go
towards associated allied health expenses - Coordination costs
The AT-HM list is sorted into the following categories:
- Managing body functions
- Self-care
- Mobility
- Domestic life
- Communication and information management
- Home modifications
What this means for participants:
If you’re eligible for Support at Home, your assistive technology and home modifications will not need to be covered by your allocated budget. This ensures your funding remains available for other essential supports and means participants don’t have to save up funding for larger items they may need more immediately. Instead, additional funding will be provided through the AT-HM Scheme.
- SHORT-TERM SUPPORT
Support at Home will include two additional programs that will support people whose needs are only short term.
- Restorative Care Pathway aims to delay the reliance on ongoing services and help people continue to remain independent at home for longer. It will focus on early intervention to restore function, and build strength and capabilities. Participants will receive coordinated allied health services to help them achieve their goals and slow functional decline. Participants receive a budget for $6k (or up to $12k if needed) to be used within a 12 week duration.
- End-of-Life Pathway funds additional services in the last 3 months of life so people can remain at home. A total of $25,000 will be available per eligible participant over a 3-month period.
What this means for participants:
- Eligible participants have access to an extra 4 weeks of restorative care than they do currently (from 8 weeks under the current Short Term Restorative Care to up to 12 weeks under Support at Home). Restorative care will promote better outcomes and improved function, through rehabilitation education and early intervention.
- There are currently no existing palliative care supports through the HCP program. End-of-Life Pathway will address the funding needs of those at the end of their life and respect their wish to be at home surrounded by the people and things they cherish, while also addressing their pain management and other needs.
- NEW TERMS TO UNDERSTAND
Participant – currently referenced in HCP program as recipient, or client, under Support at Home older people who receive Support at Home will be referred to as participants.
Care Partner – similar to case manager, participants will have access to a Care Partner through their provider to assist in coordinating their care/support plan and ensure they get the best possible outcomes.
Individual Support Plan – a broad overview of a participant’s needs and required services. Similar to a care plan under HCP, it will include clinical conditions, referral, summary of goals, strengths and assessed needs.
Budget – an individual’s SAH funding will be referred to as their budget, and is based on the classification level they qualify for when assessed and approved.
Contributions: the government will continue to be the main funder of aged care, providing 89% of SAH funding. The government Aged Care Taskforce have deemed it is appropriate for older people to contribute to their aged care costs where they have the means to do so (e.g., self-funded retirees with sufficient means to contribute based on an income assessment conducted by Services Australia). There is a strong safety net for low means participants to meet aged care costs.
Prestige Inhome Care will continue to provide information about the Support at Home program.
For more government information, see Support at Home program | Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care.
To learn more about Home Care Packages with Prestige Inhome Care Home Care Packages – Prestige Inhome Care.