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Need a helping hand at home, or think it might be time to move into an aged care home? Whatever your circumstances, you might have come across My Aged Care — but what is My Aged Care, exactly?
My Aged Care is an Australian Government initiative. It provides Government-funded care services for older Australians who need assistance at home, in the community, or in aged care. My Aged Care provides information about different aged care services, assessments for eligibility, referrals and support finding service providers, and more.
Want to know more? Here, we answer key questions about My Aged Care, including who is eligible for My Aged Care, what services are available, and more.
What kind of services are available?
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There is a wide range of services available through My Aged Care. No two care packages are the same — your services are tailored to meet your needs, goals and circumstances so you have the support you need to continue living comfortably and independently, either at home or in an aged care facility.
Here’s a quick rundown of what’s available.
Help at home
Asking for help doesn’t mean losing independence; in fact, My Aged Care can help you stay independent at home longer. Under this service, your support worker can help with:
- Shopping, cooking and cleaning
- Personal care, e.g. bathing, dressing, getting in and out of bed
- Home modifications for improved safety around the house
- Transport to doctor’s appointments, the homes of family and friends, and social events in the community.
Short-term care
If you’ve recently had a hospital visit and need some help at home while you recover, short-term care might be the perfect solution for you. Help can be provided for a few days to a few months, depending on your needs and recovery period.
There are three kinds of short-term care available.
- Restorative care — Designed to help you reverse or slow the difficulties you’re having with day-to-day tasks. Your support worker can help improve your independence and ensure you can keep living at home for as long as possible.
- Transitional care — Designed to help you regain functional independence faster after a hospital stay. Your support worker can work with you in aged care, at home, in the community, or in all three locations.
- Respite care — Designed to provide a break for you and your usual support worker. This can last for a few hours, a few days, or even a few months, and can be planned in advance, e.g. your usual support worker is going on holiday or has surgery coming up
Aged care homes
An aged care home is the ideal choice for older people who no longer live at home and need help with their day-to-day tasks, personal care and nursing care. In an aged care home, you will have:
- Accommodation including furnishings and bedding
- Hotel-type services including meals, laundry, cleaning, heating and cooling, and maintenance of your accommodation
- Care services include help with bathing, eating, taking medications, and health treatments. You will also receive specialised bedding, nursing, and therapy services like physiotherapy.
Who is eligible for My Aged Care?
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You might be eligible for My Aged Care if you’re over 65 or have:
- Noticed changes in what you can do or remember
- Been diagnosed with a medical condition
- Have had a change in family care arrangements
- Experienced a fall or hospital admission
- Have reduced mobility.
The first step to finding out if you’re eligible is completing an in-person assessment at home (you can also complete an online quiz to determine if you’re eligible for this assessment). An assessor will visit your home to see your living arrangements and talk to you about your circumstances and needs. From here, the assessor will work with you to determine the best services to suit those needs.
If you are deemed ineligible for My Aged Care, you can contact them to discuss your situation, or you might look into non-government-funded aged care services and providers.
How much does it cost?
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Unfortunately, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. My Aged Care costs vary depending on the kind of help you need, the type of care you’re eligible for, your financial situation, and your aged care provider. There are various costs and fees involved, so the costs are unique to each individual.
Most aged care providers can provide government-subsidised care, meaning the government can cover the costs (or part of them) to make it more affordable for you. However, the government will ask you to contribute if you can afford to — this comes down to an income and assets assessment.
Before you decide how to pay for My Aged Care, we recommend seeking independent financial advice so that you understand the costs and how much you can manage to contribute.
Compliment My Aged Care with daily living products from Active Mobility
If you’re thinking about applying for My Aged Care (or currently receiving aged care services), we have helpful daily living products to make living at home easier and more comfortable. From cosy lift chairs to easy reachers, dining and food preparation aids, and even equipment to modify your bathroom for improved safety, you’ll find it all here at Active Mobility.
Shop online for fast and affordable shipping throughout Australia! Plus, we offer flexible payment options like Afterpay so that you can worry about the costs later.