Questions and answers

Yes, absolutely. Private home care services are a good alternative when you do not have, are waiting for, or cannot access a government-funded Support at Home program. This can help people who need urgent home care, as there is no waiting period for the Single Assessment System. LiveWell can also help you apply for Support at Home while you receive private services.

A government-funded program that lets you receive care services in your own home, or assistance when you are out in the community, so you can live independently for as long as possible. Funding can be used for services such as housework, transport to appointments, clinical care, personal care, mobility aids, and minor home modifications to create a safe and comfortable environment.

There are eight funding classifications. An aged care assessor will decide the right classification based on the level of care and support you need.

You may be eligible if you are:

• Aged 65 or older
• An Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person aged 50 or older
• A person aged 50 or older who is homeless or at risk of homelessness

Request an assessment through My Aged Care. You can call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422, ask your GP or another medical professional to complete an online referral for you, or complete an online referral yourself or with a loved one.

My Aged Care will ask about your health, support system, medical diagnoses and the activities you find difficult. An assessor will then contact you by phone. People with higher care needs may be assessed through the Single Assessment System, and the assessor decides your funding classification and priority.

Participant contributions are part of the Support at Home program, and you only pay contributions for services you receive. Your contribution rate is based on your income and assets, the type of service, and the amount of service you receive, using an income and assets assessment similar to the Age Pension means test.

Full pensioners and Commonwealth Seniors Health Card holders generally pay lower contributions. Clinical care, such as nursing and physiotherapy, is fully funded by the government. Independence services, such as personal care, attract moderate contributions. Everyday living services, such as cleaning and gardening, attract the highest contribution rates.

It protects people who were approved for a Home Care Package on or before 12 September 2024. Protections include no new financial contributions unless you were previously subject to income-tested fees, no reduction in funding, continued access to unspent funds, and equivalent budgets for eligible people still waiting for funding.

It applies to people assigned a Home Care Package approved on or before 12 September 2024, and people approved on or before that date who remain on the National Priority System.

Once you have been assigned Support at Home funding, or received a letter from My Aged Care advising you to look for a provider, contact LiveWell on 1300 854 893. We will help you navigate the aged care system, explain the process and give you the information you need to make an informed decision.