When you are approved for a Home Care Package for aged care support at home, it’s likely you’ll have questions about the kinds of services you can engage with your funding. 

The answer is – it varies, depending on which funding level you’ve been allocated, from Level 1 through to Level 4. You can view the list of services available to you on our Services Page. This article explains the four funding levels, and provides some examples, to give you an idea of what to expect from your own budget.

Our examples are based around the number of carer or domestic assistance visits you could expect per week based on your budget. But your funds can be spent in other ways – for example, to pay for minor home modifications such as ramps or grab rails. At For Care, we work with you to create a tailored Care Plan that meets your needs and makes the most of your budget.

And remember – any unspent funds from your budget DO roll over to the following month.

The Entry Level: Commonwealth Home Support Package (CHSP)

The CHSP is a package of funding offering small amounts of entry-level support to help older people to remain living in their home and community. If you aren’t yet eligible for a Home Care Package, you may be offered a CHSP instead. Or, sometimes, if you are facing a long wait time to receive your Home Care Package, you may be offered a CHSP while you wait. 

Home Care Packages

Level 1:

Basic Care Needs

$10,588.65 per year*

Enjoy a little extra support and assistance with basic activities of daily living – such cleaning and tidying around the house, lawn mowing and light weeding, personal grooming and dressing, help with meal preparation, shopping and transport.

This averages around 1-2 visits a week, depending on your individual needs

Level 2:

Low-level Care Needs

$18,622.30 per year*

Get a little more frequent assistance with basic daily living eg personal care, help to keep your home and garden neat, clean and tidy, shopping and transport, plus some allied health services. 

This averages around 3-4 visits a week, depending on your individual needs

Level 3:

Intermediate care needs

$40,529.60 per year*

You can receive a higher level of support, with more complex care services and specialised health services provided by trained medical staff, as well as help around the home

Care and assistance can be provided, on average, most days of the week.

Level 4:

High-level care needs

$62,440.45 per year*

The highest level of support, including a wide range of services to meet complex care requirements or multiple high care needs, including medical or nursing support. 

The level assigned to you will depend on an assessment of your needs (both physical and cognitive) and how extensive they are. Please refer to pricing information for a comprehensive view of potential funding.

As your needs change over time, you can be reassessed for a higher level of funding. The For Care team can help you with this process, to ensure your services are always meeting your needs. Contact our team for more information!

* The government contribution changes on 1 July every year. These figures are up to date as at 1 July 2024.