Just over 33% of Home Care Package recipients don’t know what level of funding their package entitles them to, while almost 40% had some difficulty understanding their fees and charges, a new report from an independent consumer think-tank in Victoria has uncovered.
The ‘Choosing care: the difficulties in navigating the Home Care Package market’ report – which relies on University of SA research that surveyed over 500 people receiving a HCP – also found a large number (39%) were not provided with a Care Plan or were unsure about theirs.
Given these plans put down in writing the assessed needs of the individual, this makes it hard for families to ensure their loved ones are receiving the care they should be.
Just one-third had chosen their provider themselves (pictured above), with 60% relying on their doctor or a family member or friend to find a provider – raising questions about how people without family support would be able to access services.
In addition, over 95% had never switched their provider while just 9% had considered changing – suggesting there isn’t enough competition between providers to deliver more choice to older people.
These are worrying figures.
Home care is designed to provide older people with the support they need to continue living independently at home – if they aren’t, this could impact on their health and wellbeing and potentially lead to early entry to residential aged care.
The survey respondents said they wanted more support to choose a provider, clearer information about fees and charges and what services they will be receiving, and more transparency about the quality of providers.
They also wanted independent advice and guidance to navigate the system.
The Federal Government does have its My Aged Care website and contact centre which provides information by phone and online but there has been calls in recent years for more face-to-face support to be provided for people looking to access services.
The Government is currently working on a pilot program to trial ‘system navigators’ to help Australians and their families understand the aged care system led by consumer group COTA Australia.
It is due to finish in June this year and COTA CEO Ian Yates tells us they are talking to Government about how My Aged Care can take those services on – clearly it can’t come soon enough.
Discussion1 Comment
I am rated at level two and my wife at level three. We have had some problems with ACH at the beginning but those have now been sorted. We have spoken to them about having our private health insurance paid from our package but I am still waiting for a answer.