What’s the deal with ‘self-management’ of home-care packages?

We’ve received great feedback on recent stories about the benefits of self-managing home care, and case studies of it in action.

Readers liked the way it sounds, but had some questions about how it works.

With the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety due to deliver its Final Report by 26 February – and its expected emphasis on human rights, choice and control – we may see renewed interest and discussion about the self-management approach to home care.

We’ve enlisted the help of self-management experts at home care and disability support worker platform, Mable, to clarify and answer your most common questions. 

How does self-management actually work?

All home care packages are hosted by an approved service provider. They are responsible for holding the funding and providing financial administration and case management support as you work out what you need to live safely and well.

If you choose to self-manage, you get to choose and manage your support workers and services yourself. This means you can find your own support workers directly and negotiate the exact service, schedule and costs according to your particular needs.

Some people want to manage it all themselves, while others work with a family member. Mable’s website makes it easy to find and connect with independent support workers in your area.

Is self-management a cheaper option?

Self-managing your Home Care Package could mean you have more money to spend on direct care and support, because you avoid admin fees charged by many service providers.

Administration fees charged by providers to manage your package could take up a significant proportion of your package, and this can reduce your potential care hours.

A recent study highlighted the cost-effectiveness of self-management, demonstrating how lower package management and case management fees means people have more money available for care.

Is it difficult to self-manage your package?

If you or a family member are comfortable paying bills online, self-management shouldn’t be difficult. Websites like Mable streamline this process, making it as easy as possible.

But it isn’t for everyone. Some people prefer not having to make any decisions; others want choice and control of some things and not others. It should always be your choice.

Can anyone choose to self-manage?

In some cases, such as if a person has cognitive impairment like dementia and they have no family member to be their representative, self-management might not be the best option.

Otherwise, it’s more about the level of involvement and control you want. If you’re the sort of person who is happy to let the travel agent make most of the decisions, you might be happier having your provider manage your package.

What safeguards are in place when you self-manage?  

With anyone coming into your home, whether you have employed them directly or they have been sent by an agency, it’s important to know there are strong safeguards in place.  Approved independent workers on the Mable website must all have police checks and reference checks as well as provide evidence of their qualifications where relevant before they can provide services through the platform. Workers undertaking certain services, such as medication assistance, require additional evidence of training and experience.  The review and rating system is another powerful safeguard but perhaps the biggest safeguard is the ability to interview, trial workers and discontinue their services if you are not happy.

And remember, the service provider hosting your package still has oversight of your services and should be regularly checking in to see that you have everything you need or if you need help.  They should be your first port of call if you have any concerns. It’s all part of the picture when you take control and choose self-management.