Mar 08, 2017

Consumer Directed Care Changes Have Begun: What Does This Mean for You?

Starting from yesterday, Consumer Directed Care has changed with the introduction of Increasing Choice in Home Care measure.

Changes made by the Federal Government have altered how home care for older Australians are funded, with 80,000 home care packages going from provider-controlled to consumer-controlled.

A person who is eligible for Home Care Packages will now be able to choose which organisation will provide which services for them.

Previously, home care packages and funding were given to approved providers via an allocation process, and if the consumer wanted to change providers before they had used up all their package, then the remainder of the unused funds would be forfeited.

But now all home care packages will be given directly to individual consumers and they determine how services, such as nursing or personal care, are allotted.

The old system, where providers held control of the home care packages, often had many issues such as allegations of providers charging huge fees, discrimination against people who couldn’t afford private services and problems when people had to relinquish and re-apply for packages when they moved homes.

Consumers are now able to change their provider whenever they choose for whatever reason, for example if they move or if their care needs are unfulfilled, and take with them whatever remaining funds they have to the new provider.

This is a big move for home care as Consumer Directed Care not only ensures that the industry is consumer-driven, but that it is also market based and less regulated.

It is expected, now, that people who are receiving the home care packages will be more involved with the distribution of their funds and have more regular contact with their provider.

Consumer Directed Care is set to give more control to consumers over the funds for their care and how those funds are spent, which would be more efficient as the number of people who choose to use home care services rises. It has been estimated that the number of home care packages will increase to approximately 100,000 by 2018.

People who currently already have a home care package are not required to do anything to have the new changes applied to them, and their home care services will continue unless they choose otherwise.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  1. Everyone should have their own preferences taken into account when it’s their package, my life my choice’s & care holistically suited to me

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Let’s do better for our elders

Ageing and death can be difficult issues. Most of us prefer to distract ourselves from these fundamental realities. As a result, however, our political discussion on aged care has been characterised by gingerness, euphemism and indecision. We have failed to grapple practically with a concrete political problem. Since 2002 the government has released four intergenerational.... Read More

5 Ways You Can Make Yourself More Attractive (That Have Nothing to do With Appearance)

People are attracted to happy and positive people. Being happy and sure of yourself is something everyone strives to be and both are attractive qualities to have. When you’re sure of who you are and where you stand on things, this can give you the confidence you need in yourself to make you feel more... Read More

Losing Weight and Gaining Health as a Senior

“Older Australians—people aged 55 years and over—are being strongly caught up in the national obesity epidemic”, a study by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare reports. Maintaining a healthy weight lowers risk of chronic illness, disability, and social impairments, and is therefore vital for seniors in aged care homes. Seniors can retain mobility, lose weight, and... Read More
Advertisement