Home Care Packages
A Home Care Package is a subsidy provided by the Australian Government to older Australians to access support services in their homes.
A Home Care Package is a subsidy provided by the Australian Government to older Australians to access support services in their homes.
Think of a Home Care Package as a bundle of services you choose, grouped together to provide you with individually tailored support to keep you enjoying your independence at home.
With a Home Care Package, you can pick and choose the services you need the most.
What services can you choose with your Home Care Package?
You can select and combine multiple services to suit your lifestyle and support your independence. Your selection of services becomes your ‘care plan’. Our services include, but are not limited to:
Meal Delivery Service
We are proud to provide Meals on Wheels to the Colac community. This is partially funded under Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) and delivered in partnership with Foodaroma, a local meals supplier.
Domestic Assistance
We can support you with whatever services you need around the house with a mix and match of services to create a comprehensive care plan suited to you.
Personal Care
Taking care of yourself at home is essential. Our personal care services are designed to ensure you receive the support you need to look and feel your best everyday.
Social Connection
Spending time with family and friends is important. We can make it easier to ensure you don’t miss out on any of your favourite activities.
Nursing
With qualified nurses available, we can offer clinical assistance in your home or workplace.
Transport
Whether you want to get out and about to enjoy the community or you have appointments and commitments to get to, we can help you get to where you need to be.
Community Transport
Our community transport service is committed to assisting those in the community who are transport disadvantaged.
Home Maintenance
Our home maintenance services are here to help with the little tasks that keep your home running smoothly. From fixing loose handrails to replacing light blubs, our team are ready to lend a land so you can enjoy your home without the hassle.
Digital and Technology Support
We can support you to learn and use new skills to stay as independent as possible and keep in touch with your loved ones.
Allied Health
Allied health is a term used to describe the range of health professionals involved in your care who do not fit into the category of doctors, dentists, or nurses.
Dementia Support
Mercy Health is proud of our reputation as one of Victoria’s most experienced providers of dementia care and support.
Memory Support
If you or a loved one is experiencing any kind of behavioural changes or other difficulties associated with memory loss, we can help.
Disability Support
Whether you’re moving out of home for the first time, or looking for help running a family or handling your job. Whatever your circumstances, we can assist
Overnight Care
Enjoy peace of mind by having someone to support you in your home overnight.
24-Hour Care
Our staff can ‘live-in’ for a continuous 24-hour period – from a single-day service through to continuous care, seven days a week.
Wellness Centre
Programs at the Mercy Health Wellness Centre especially benefit people aged 65-plus with reduced balance, a history of falls, or those experiencing a general decline in muscle strength and conditioning.
Palliative Care
Mercy Health Home Care can work with a palliative care provider to help people who are living with a life-limiting or terminal illness to live as comfortably as possible.
Respite Care
If you are caring for a loved one — we can give you a break from your care responsibilities. Carers do an amazing job and it is important for them to take time out to rest and recharge or attend to personal tasks.
The home care we provide doesn’t need to be a ‘service’ in the traditional sense. We can also coordinate your care plan or engage with others already providing services to you — physiotherapists, for example — and handle the payment or planning, so you don’t have to.
How many services can you choose with your Home Care Package?
You can choose as many services as you can fit within your monthly Home Care Package subsidy. We can work with you to match your budget with the services you need.
There are four levels of Home Care Packages, designed to meet different levels of independence and care requirements. The funding levels are determined by the Australian Government.
Your funding level will be determined through an assessment as part of the Home Care Package application process. Assessments can be arranged through My Aged Care(opens in new window) which is part of the Australian Government and provides independent help and advice on all aspects of aged care.
- Level 1 supports people with basic care needs. Think of it as the smallest bundle that provides a couple of hours of home care services each week.
- Level 2 supports people with low-level care needs. It results in around four hours of home care services per week.
- Level 3 supports people with intermediate level care needs. It equates to around nine hours of home care services per week.
- Level 4 supports people with high-level care needs. It translates to around 14 hours of home care services per week.
While each level comes with a different subsidy, all levels have access to the same types of services — the difference is the amount of services you can choose within your budget. We tailor your services to ensure you get the best value out of your budget.
How do you get a Home Care Package?
Answer a few quick questions to get started with the right support for your needs.
How much will your care cost?
A Home Care Package provides you with government-subsidised funding to access the home care services you may need. However, most people are expected to contribute a small amount towards the associated costs. This amount may vary depending on your personal circumstances; we will discuss and agree to a fee structure to suit your personal circumstances.
My Aged Care can provide an indicative estimate of your fees through the Home Care Fee Estimator.
Guide to Mercy Health subsidies and charges
Mercy Health Home Care Package Model
Mercy Health Home Care Package fee schedule
When does your care start and how long does it last?
Once you have chosen a home care provider, you will receive a home care agreement. Your home care agreement is a legal document that details the services within your care plan, including who will provide your services and any associated costs.
Your Home Care Package subsidy starts on the day you sign your home care agreement, not the day you receive care and services.
You can continue using your Home Care Package to access services for as long as you need.
Engaging Mercy Health as your home care provider
We understand the system and we can help navigate it for you, or with you. We will provide one dedicated contact person to explain all your options. We can also help you identify and prioritise your needs at any point in the process, listen to what services matter to you, and what will make your life easier. We’re here to help you through every step of the process, so if things get overwhelming or confusing, give us a call.
If you’d like any more information or have specific questions, call us now on 1300 478 776 or make an enquiry.
Frequently asked questions
Find the answers to frequently asked questions, with insights into service costs, different ways we can help you enjoy living independently at home, and more.
If you need help in a hurry we can organise services to start the next day however, to ensure we can find the right care team members for you most services start within two to five days. The staff at your local office will be able to provide more information based on your particular situation and requirements.
The Australian Government offers several programs that provide subsidies for aged care services.
These programs include:
- Support at Home (SAH).
- Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP)
- Veterans’ Home Care
- Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) Community Nursing
- National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
Some funded programs only operate in specific areas. Please contact the Mercy Health Home Care office nearest to you for more information.
Your funding level will be determined through an Aged Care Assessment. Aged Care Assessments can be organised through My Aged Care, the Commonwealth Government body responsible for all aged care services.
- Classification 1 minimal support for independent living. This might provide occasional assistance with light domestic tasks.
- Classification 2 light personal care and social support. This might provider light person care such as assistance with showering, dressing and managing medications.
- Classification 3 moderate assistance with daily living. This might include more structured support several times per week.
- Classification 4 high-frequency personal and domestic support. This might include near-daily care across personal and household tasks.
- Classification 5 daily support with health monitoring. This might include services cover complex personal care.
- Classification 6 comprehensive health and clinical care. This might include
- Classification 7 intensive daily multidisciplinary care
- Classification 8 highest classification of in-home and pallative care.
While each level comes with a different amount of funding, all levels have access to the same types of services — the difference is the amount of services you can choose within your budget. We tailor your services to ensure you get the best value out of your budget.