What You Need To Know About Asking For A High Priority Home Care Package
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What You Need To Know About Asking For A High Priority Home Care Package

Many people rely on Home Care Packages to be able to stay in their homes and enjoy an element of independence. But what can you do when that care isn’t enough? If you’re receiving care in your home, then asking for a high priority Home Care Package could make sure you get the care and assistance you need to stay in your home.

High priority home care is given to those who need urgent care to stop them being taken into residential care. There are different circumstances where this might be possible, as changes to your condition or care situation can mean you qualify for this urgent care.

But how do you get a high priority Home Care Package? And how does it differ from the typical Home Care Package? The following guidance can help you become a priority to receive the care you need.

What is high priority Home Care?

Being able to stay in your home and enjoy your independence is important for your wellbeing. But in order to do so, a Home Care Package could be necessary to help you carry out some of your daily tasks and make sure that you remain safe within your home. When a person identifies that they need additional care to stay in their homes, they can be considered for high priority Home Care instead. High priority Home Care aims to provide people with the care they need to keep living in their homes, especially if they are at risk of residential care without it.

If you have a carer, but your circumstances change, such as a death or accident/illness, then you could find yourself being assigned high priority. You could also be assigned high priority if your care needs change and you need additional care to what your carer can provide. For many people, a carer is a relative or partner, and they might not have the right skills and experience to provide you with the extra care you need.

People who are receiving no care at all, despite having significant needs, could also be eligible for high priority Home Care. If you think you should be receiving care but you aren’t, then make a call straight away.

Avoiding residential care is one of the main reasons behind a Home Care Package, and if a person is at risk because the support isn’t there, or there’s been a significant change in circumstances, then it’s important for that person to receive high priority Home Care.

Tips for being assigned high priority Home Care

There can be a long waiting list for high priority Home Care, but there are things that you can do to move up the list, as well as ensure you’re receiving the care you need in the meantime. Not everyone is aware of the steps required to secure high priority home care, but understanding what’s required could help you get the care you need quicker. Some tips for you to consider include:

  • You need to provide evidence that you’re not receiving the full care package you need. Some simple ways to demonstrate this include showing that there is an underspend, or that there could be some home equipment that you should be saving towards.
  • Many people receive Community Care services (known as top-up services) to help provide additional care. If you’re receiving this kind of care, or are willing to ask and pay the fee for it, then this could be a sign that your existing Home Care Package isn’t meeting your needs.
  • Paying private fees for extra support is another sign that you need a high priority Home Care Package and could help move you up the waiting list to stop you paying for additional care.

Applying for high priority Home Care

If you have an existing Home Care Package

A Home Care Package isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. Sometimes your care won’t cover what you need, or you could have a change in circumstances that mean more urgent care is required. If you already have a Home Care Package that’s not meeting your needs, then it’s important to make this known to your Care Coordinator, who should already be aware. Your Care Coordinator can provide you with guidance, as well as act on your behalf to help you get the right care to remain in your home. If you need help with this, you can contact 1300 875 377.

If you are waiting for a Home Care Package

In order to receive a Home Care Package, you need to make sure that your situation has been assessed. If your needs change from the time of assessment, then it’s important to make this known to your assessor to make sure you get the high priority care you need.

If you’re unsure of who your assessor is, you can call 1800 200 422 to find out and get the information you need. It’s important to tell them as much information about your circumstances as possible so that the assessor can get those services out to you. If you don’t feel comfortable doing this, you can always ask a relative or a friend for some assistance. It’s always worth making the call, as you won’t be reassessed without asking for it.

Understanding the National Prioritisation Queue

When it comes to receiving Home Care, you’ll be assessed by an Aged Care Assessment Team. Your assessor will provide you with a package level from 1 to 4 which details the amount of care you receive. For high priority home care, you will be assessed on the urgency of the care required. The majority of people are put on a ‘medium’ priority, but there are several circumstances, including those detailed above, that mean your case gets assessed as high priority.

The National Prioritisation Queue works by taking into account the amount of time spent waiting for services, and the priority level. If you fall into the high priority category, then your needs will be given priority to get you the care you need. Knowing how the priority queue works can boost your chances of being assigned priority care, helping you benefit from vital care services.

You’ll have noticed that there has been no mention of ‘low priority’. This is because no patient who needs Home Care is considered low priority. If, for some reason, you chose not to receive home care, your circumstances will be classed as ‘not seeking services’, although you would be welcome to be assessed for home care services at a later date.

Appealing the decision

In some cases, an application for high priority home care could be rejected. The reasons why will be explained to you. If, however, you strongly believe that you should be receiving a high priority Home Care Package, it’s important to appeal the decision and make your case for reassessment. Important details could have been missed the first time round, or you could find that your circumstances have changed again since making the first application.

To get some help with your appeal, you could ask a friend or relative to act on your behalf, or speak to your Care Coordinator to help you gather the necessary evidence.

Some alternatives to high priority Home Care

There are circumstances to which high priority Home Care might not be suitable for your needs. While a carer might find caring for your needs a challenge at times, it could be that they just need a period of respite instead of high priority home care. Respite care could also be needed for emergency situations where your carer could be temporarily unavailable due to illness, injury or personal circumstances. You can find details of emergency respite care providers here. There is also residential respite care to consider for circumstances where your carer might need to take a break for holidays and other engagements.

Types of Home Care

There are several types of Home Care service you could benefit from in your home. You might not need to benefit from every service, but there is a possibility that you need one or more services to help you stay in your own home. Some key services include:

Housekeeping services

An injury, illness or lack of mobility can make it difficult to get things done around the house. Using home care housekeeping services can help you to keep your home clean, as well as provide you with other services such as cooking. Depending on what you need within your home, a home care team will be able to provide it for you.

Daily visits

Home care can also include daily visits to help with tasks such as administering medication, changing dressings, helping you get dressed, bathe and helping to put you to bed, these types of services can be extremely vital to keeping you safe and happy in your home.

Disability care

If you have a certain disability, a home care team can provide you with the care you need to manage it at home. This can involve assistance with mobility and other tasks that could be necessary when you have a disability.

Care for different conditions

As well as typical home care packages, we also offer tailored support for different conditions. We can provide support for dementia, cancer, care for those with heart conditions and others to help you continue to live at home.

One key thing to note is that home care isn’t just suitable for elderly people. There are people with life-long conditions who could need support from a young age, as well as those who might only need home care for a short period. By requesting an ACAT assessment, you can make sure that you or your loved one get the right care for your condition.

About Home Caring

When the time comes for you or a loved one to start receiving care, you need to know that they’re in safe hands. At Home Caring, we provide a comprehensive care service that is always to a high standard. We work with you to provide your ideal home care package so that you can feel safe in your home. Our specialised care services can support your daily needs, while giving you full control over your daily schedule.

We have a large team to make sure that your needs are met. We want to make sure that everyone has access to the care they need and that they feel confident in our services. We also offer a free consultation so that we can help you come up with your ideal care package. With years of experience in delivering high quality home care services, Home Caring is just a phone call away for your needs.

With high priority Home Care, it’s important that you make a claim to get the services you need. Not asking means you won’t get anything, which could lead your health to suffer. Your care needs to reflect your needs, and if they aren’t being met or you’re unhappy with what’s being provided, then it’s important that you speak up. Your care team are in the best position to make recommendations to your assessor to make sure you get the help you need. While paying for additional care can be a beneficial short-term solution, it’s not something that’s always sustainable long-term.

Home Caring is here to help if you have high priority home care needs. We can help you with your claim and ensure you receive the best care possible in your home. Our team is full of friendly, helpful personalities who are ready to make your care a priority.

If you need help or information related to your Home Care needs, get in touch today. You can reach us via your local office to help ensure you get the right services for your needs. From providing you with home care services to more complicated support, Home Caring provides a range of high-quality care services.

Having high priority home care can be vital to staying safe and happy in your home, so don’t miss out on the care that’s available to you.

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