A question we hear quite often from people asking us about Home Care options is “What is the difference between a Home Care Package and the Commonwealth Home Support Program?”
Similarities
Both Home Care Packages and Commonwealth Home Supports provide support for you to continue living independently at home for as long as possible. Such services or supports offered under both of these options include personal care, transport, food, shopping, housework, physio, social activities, and modifications to your home, and more.
Both options are subsidised by the Government, although the level of funding support provided is different for each.
Differences
The below table outlines the differences between these two support options.
| Commonwealth Home Support Programme | Home Care Package | |
| What support is provided | Basic, entry level support to people getting older who are finding day-today tasks are becoming a little more difficult. | Available to those who need a little bit more ongoing support, or whose needs are a bit more complex. |
| Eligibility | To determine if it’s right for you, here are some basic eligibility criteria for this programme:
– You are 65 years or older (or 50 years or older if you identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, or are a low-income earner, homeless or at risk of becoming homeless) – Still living at home – Require help at home to continue living independently. |
The basic eligibility criteria for a Home Care package is:
– An older person who requires coordinated services to remain living at home – A younger person with a disability, dementia, or other special care needs that can’t be met through other available services. |
| Funding | Commonwealth Home Support funding is much lower, as the care needs are significantly less. | Home Care Packages, in particular, Home Care Package Level 3 and 4 have a much larger pool of funding available – between $33,000 – $50,000. |
| Assessment | You do not need an income assessment to access Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) services and your age pension will not be affected by your contributions to the cost of your services. There will be a per hour contribution for services under this programme. | With a Home Care Package you do need to complete an income assessment and a contribution may be required depending on the outcome of your assessment. |
| Service delivery by providers | With the Commonwealth Home Support Program you can choose a number of different providers to deliver services for you. | Under a home care package a single provider must deliver all types of care. |
For more information on what is provided at each level and how funding works for each, visit the below My Aged Care website pages:
If you need advice about Home Care Packages vs the Commonwealth Home Support Program, please contact us, or if you would like to discuss Home Care options, talk to one of the friendly care coordinators at Accept Care on 08 8251 5186. For more information on the Home Care Package download our Home Care Package Overview by clicking the button below.
