THOUSANDS of seniors in need of home care will soon be given greater control over their health and wellbeing.
From July 1, recipients can choose their own packages under a new government program called Consumer Directed Care.
After recognising the demand for a better standard of care services, Jon Kontopos founded Home Caring, an organisation that caters for people suffering dementia.
“We can go all the way up to extremely high care for dementia patients at their home and that’s a benefit because people don’t want to have to move into a nursing home,” he said.
The revised scheme is designed to help older people remain in their community for longer and choose the type of care and services they receive and by whom.
“The whole point is giving people the option to live at home for longer,” Mr Kontopos said.
“We try and encourage independence because people can go down quickly if you do everything for them and it’s not really active living.”
Senior manager of Home Caring, Christine Cherry, said that dementia was a complex disease and that every client had different needs.
“We can’t give you medical advice, but we’re there to help in every other way,” she said.
Diagnosis:
On average, symptoms of dementia are noticed by families three years before a firm diagnosis is made, according to Alzheimer’s Australia. A caregiver can’t diagnose the disease. If you suspect that you or a loved one may have dementia, see your GP or a geriatrician.
Care plan:
Because dementia varies in degree from person to person, a tailored care plan should be put in place. Your carer will begin by visiting for a client assessment. Discuss your concerns and ask any questions you may have during this time. Ensure that the care plan is reviewed every six months.
Where to get help:
Carers are advised to take regular breaks and look after their own health. Respite services are available — visit myagedcare.gov.au for more details. You can also join a carer association for support.
The Albanese Labor Government has introduced a landmark Aged Care Bill, marking a once-in-a-generation reform to prioritise the rights, safety and dignity of older Australians.
From 1 July 2025, the new Aged Care Act will bring significant changes, including:
-Tougher regulatory standards to ensure higher
accountability
-Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards for improved
care delivery
-A dedicated Statement of Rights for older Australians
-A $4.3 billion Support at Home program to help seniors live independently at home for longer
These reforms align with the Royal Commission’s recommendations, focusing on better complaint handling, greater participant choice, improved funding and enhanced fairness and quality across the sector.
If you’d like to learn more about how these changes impact you or your loved ones, Home Caring can guide you through the details. Please call us on 1300 875 377 for personalised support and assistance.
Read more 📱- health.gov.au/aged-care-act
#AgedCareReforms #SupportingOlderAustralians #australianhealthandagedcare #AHAC
... See MoreSee Less
Even as we head into the final month of the year our incredible Home Caring teams show no signs of slowing down! Fueled by their passion for helping others they’ve been working tirelessly to make a difference in the lives of our clients. Last weekend our Home Caring Vermont HomeCaring Narre Warren Home Caring Footscray HomeCaring Mornington Peninsula Home Caring St Albans Eltham and Bellarine teams all came together to showcase their dedication and expertise at the Melbourne Disability Expo.
The expo was an amazing opportunity for our teams to connect with the local community, meet new faces and raise awareness about the vital work we do. From sharing insights into our services to forming meaningful connections all of our Melbourne teams went above and beyond to make the event a resounding success. It’s clear that when you’re passionate about your work, it never feels like a job – and this passion was on full display throughout the weekend. A big thank you to everyone involved for representing Home Caring with such heart and dedication! 🩵
... See MoreSee Less
Happy Friday HC fam!
It’s been a busy and productive week here at Home Caring with only forty days till the end of the year we are full steam ahead! One highlight was the team-building and networking session with our amazing Home Caring Bankstown team. The workshop was a huge success bringing everyone together to learn, grow and strengthen our skills.
These sessions are such a valuable part of what we do as they foster connection, build efficiency and empower us to deliver the best care to our clients. As we all know being a support worker can sometimes feel isolating but moments like these remind us of the incredible community we’re all a part of.
Let’s all carry that energy into the weekend—it’s going to be a hot one, so stay cool and take care! 🩵
... See MoreSee Less
Happy Sunday HC fam! Recently our Home Caring Vermont team had the privilege of attending the 20th anniversary celebration of Hope City Mission, a vital organisation making a profound difference in our community. As proud sponsors we deeply admire their unwavering dedication to providing food relief, support and hope to those in need. Hope City Mission’s initiatives extend far and wide from their compassionate crisis support programs to sustainable efforts like planting seedlings, whose produce directly benefits people facing hardship. It’s a joy to stand beside them in their mission to uplift lives and foster resilience.
Our sponsorship reflects Home Caring’s core value of giving without expecting anything in return. We’re thrilled to have contributed to initiatives like installing a sprinkler system to nurture their community garden, where fresh produce is grown for those living in crisis. Supporting Hope City Mission means investing in kindness, growth and care and we couldn’t be prouder to play a part in their incredible journey. Here’s to creating positive change together! 🩵
#happysunday #welovewecare
... See MoreSee Less