Buying Mobility Equipment With Your Home Care Package

Many people aren’t aware that they can use their home care package to buy mobility equipment that helps them stay at home longer and perform daily tasks. But before we look at this in more detail, let’s go through some commonly asked questions about home care packages.

What is a Home Care Package?

A home care package is a coordinated package of care and services, designed to help you live independently in your own home for as long as you can. Your home care provider will work with you to:

• choose care and services that best meet your needs and goals
• manage your care and services.

Am I eligible?

You may be eligible for a home care package if you are:

• an older person (usually 65+ or 50+ for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people) who needs coordinated services to help you stay at home
• a younger person with a disability, dementia or other special care needs that are not met through other specialist services.

You need to have a face-to-face assessment of your care needs to find out if you’re eligible.

How much funding can I get?

The total cost of a home care package is made up of:

• what you need to pay (your contribution)
• what the Australian Government pays (the subsidy).

The Australian Government pays a different subsidy amount for each level of home care package. This amount is paid to the home care provider you choose.

There are four levels of home care packages:

• Level 1: Basic care needs – $8,250 pa
• Level 2: Low level care needs – $15,000 pa
• Level 3: Intermediate care needs – $33,000 pa
• Level 4: High level care needs – $50,250 pa

*Figures current as at February 2019. The maximum government contribution increases each year.

What can I use my home care package for?

Some of the things you can access under a home care package include:

• Personal care including help dressing, showering or bathing
• Social support & companionship
• Nutrition & meal preparation
• Continence management
• Mobility & dexterity support to stay mobile
• Nursing care & other clinical services
• Allied health support including Podiatry and Physiotherapy
• Transport & personal assistance to help you attend appointments, buy groceries etc.
• Assistive technology such as power wheelchairs & mobility scooters.

What mobility equipment can I buy with my home care package?

This really depends on the level of home care package you receive. Power Mobility offers a comprehensive range of quality mobility equipment, from walkers and manual wheelchairs to scooters and power chairs. Many of our customers use their home care packages to buy mobility equipment that makes their lives easier. Our friendly, knowledgeable team can recommend the best equipment for you, within your home care package budget.

Here are some of the mobility aids you may like to consider:

• Pride Jazzy 623 Power Chair
• Pride iGo Folding Power Chair
• Pride Zero Turn Scooter
• Pride Revo 2.0 Scooter
• Lift Chairs
• Manual Wheelchairs
• Walkers

Use it or lose it

Remember, if you don’t use all of your annual home care package subsidy, the remainder does not roll over into the following year. So make sure you plan out how you’re going to spend it with your home care provider.

Talk to the experts at Power Mobility

With more than 40 years experience, our team can provide the right assistive technology solutions to support your lifestyle. So if you’re looking for quality mobility equipment, Power Mobility has an extensive range of power chairs, manual chairs, scooters, lift chairs, plus much more. Drop into our huge showroom or call our friendly team on (07) 2102 7563 to have a chat about your needs.

Please note: This is general advice only. To find out if you’re eligible for a home care package, call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 or visit myagedcare.gov.au.