“The main thing to understand is that Home Care Package budgets increase with the levels, so support becomes more comprehensive as you go up.”—Claire Watson, Funding Manager at Australian Unity.
Key points
- Home Care Packages come in four funding levels; starting at Level 1 which supports someone with basic needs and up to level 4, which assists someone with complex needs and more regular support.
- A level two Home Care Package is designed for someone who is still relatively healthy, mobile and independent but needs some extra support around the house to allow them to maintain their lifestyle.
- A level three package provides support to someone with greater needs than somebody on a level two, such as mobility issues or managing a health condition.
- Our friendly team can explain how home care services work and help you apply for government funding.
In her role as Funding Manager at Australian Unity, Claire Watson has answered plenty of questions about Home Care Package funding levels and what it all means. “People are always curious about the different levels of Home Care Package funding and the practical differences in the support you receive,” Claire says.
Many want to understand the differences between funding levels and what that could look like from a support point of view.
Claire has shared some helpful knowledge, to identify what the differences are and how that impacts support services, across a level two and level three Home Care Package.
Home Care Package: Level two
“A level two Home Care Package is designed for somebody with low care needs,” Claire says. This level of service is designed for someone who is still relatively healthy, mobile and independent but needs some extra support around the house to allow them to maintain their lifestyle. This level of Home Care Package is currently valued at $16,147 for a 12 month period and equates to around 10 hours of services each month.
A package of services at level two might include fortnightly domestic assistance, such as vacuuming, mopping, dusting, cleaning the bathroom, doing the laundry, and changing and making the bed. Many level two people also receive monthly gardening assistance, which could include maintenance tasks or lawnmowing.
“You might also choose to have somebody come in to assist with grocery shopping once a week,” Claire says. This can ease the burden of carrying shopping from the supermarket if you don’t drive.
What could a month of support look like with a Home Care Package: Level two
- Fortnightly cleaning services
- Monthly gardening and maintenance services
- Weekly shopping assistance
- Monthly group social activities and outings
Home Care Package: Level three
People approved for a level three Home Care Package can expect double the amount of funding of a level two package. The value currently comes to $35,138 for a 12 month period, equating to around 19 hours of services each month and is for someone described as having intermediate needs.
“Generally, the big change we'll find is that someone on a level three package has been assessed at that level because they do have care needs that are greater than somebody on a level two. Sometimes that’s because they are experiencing mobility issues or managing a health condition,” Claire says.
Common service inclusions on a level three package are personal care services, which might include assistance with showering, dressing, grooming or toileting. Sometimes personal care can just mean having a care worker present as you shower, for peace of mind.
“You might be a little worried about safety in the shower and want someone nearby, or you might need a bit of assistance getting dressed. Our care staff are incredibly kind, compassionate and discreet in the support they provide,” Claire says.
People approved for a level three package may also have allied health services as part of their support plan. “At that time there may be more of a need for allied health services, such as physio or podiatry. You may have had a fall and these services may help you maintain or enjoy greater mobility and independence,” Claire says.
What could a month of support look like with a Home Care Package: Level three
- Fortnightly cleaning services
- Monthly gardening and maintenance services
- Weekly shopping assistance
- Monthly group social activities and outings
Disclaimer: Information provided in this article is of a general nature. Australian Unity accepts no responsibility for the accuracy of any of the opinions, advice, representations or information contained in this publication. Readers should rely on their own advice and enquiries in making decisions affecting their own health, wellbeing or interest. Interviewee titles and employer are cited as at the time of interview and may have changed since publication.
*Figures correct at time of publishing
