How to choose a home care package provider?
The Royal Commission has reported to us that 80 per cent of Australians want to be at home as they get older and thrive at home as successfully as they can, for as long as possible.

To help you achieve this long term, you may need to get some extra help.

Once you or your family have noticed that you need some extra help,  you need to start thinking about whom you want to provide that help. You can certainly pay for your services privately with Yellow Door Care or you can head to the My Aged Care Website and apply for a Home Care Package. Either way, you decide who provides your services and how you receive them.

Here we look at what you should consider when researching a home care package provider and what questions you should ask them before signing on.

What do you need from your provider?
You need to consider how you are coping with your health, lifestyle, mobility and any concerns you have with completing your daily activities such as showering, dressing, taking your medications, walking, talking, eating and drinking.

Based on your current situation, you might need services including personal care like showering or toileting, cleaning or gardening help, allied services such as physiotherapy or occupational therapy, nursing help like wound or catheter care, companionship or transport services.

Create a list of what services you need your provider to offer. You might have other considerations, including a carer who speaks a language other than English or is familiar with your culture or religion.

Once you’ve got a clear picture of what you want from your home care package provider, it will be easier to compare providers.

Compare home care package providers
To compare providers, you can draw up your own table or go to the My Aged Care website and use the government’s comparison tool and compare providers in your area.

Using these comparison tools, you could compare things like:

• Pricing for each service, including nursing fees, personal care and domestic support.
• Fees include basic daily fees, care and package management fees.
• Ratings, reviews and testimonials of each home care provider.
• What specialist services each provider can offer.
• What culture, background and languages the provider can support.

You can also ensure that the providers you consider adhere to the Aged Care Quality Standards and check providers results from their latest Aged Care Commission Audit on the Aged Care Commission website. You can also check which providers are non- compliant with the Aged Care Quality Standards. You want to stay away from these!

Get in touch with home care providers
Once you’ve got a shortlist of providers in your area, you should contact them to talk about the services you need.

You might like to prepare a list of questions. Some questions you might want to ask include:

• Will I have a dedicated team to whom I can speak as required?
• Can I choose the person who will provide me with care/support?
• How do you choose the person who will care for me?
• Will I see the same carers each day/week?
• What happens if I don’t like the person caring for me?
• What qualifications do your carers have?
• How often will my care plan be reviewed?
• How are you different from other service providers?
• What are the costs involved?
• What does a package budget look like? You can create your own budget on the Yellow Door Care website for free!

You might ask a family member or friend to help you with your questions. They can help you ask questions, and you can also talk about ways you and the provider can include your family in your care plan.

Choose a home care package provider
When you are thinking about choosing a home care provider, it’s vital that you consider every touch point.

• Did they answer the phone and if not, did they call you back the same day?
• How did they make you feel in that initial conversation?
• Did you feel welcome?
• Was it easy to set up an appointment?
• Did you feel like they answered all your questions?

You will be in regular contact with your home care package provider, so it’s essential that they make you feel welcome and supported at all times throughout your journey.

Once the government has approved you for a Home Care Package, you can officially choose your provider and receive your Home Care Agreement. This legal document will explain what funds are available for your use and will break down the Government’s contribution and your contribution (including the basic daily fee Yellow Door does not charge the daily fee, income-tested fees and any other fees).

It’s essential to ensure you fully understand this agreement before signing it. If you need some help, you can speak to a loved one or can find an independent advocate through the National Aged Care Advocacy Service.

Yellow Door exists so you can stay at home and independent. Give us a call today to learn more about how you can receive our services on 8362 3033.