5.1 What is Home Care

Home Care is comprised of various services that are designed to help people to stay at home. The types of services provided under a Home Care Package will depend on the specific needs of the Home Care recipient and will be coordinated for them by their home care provider. Services can include personal care, support services such as washing, ironing and gardening, and clinical care such as nursing and podiatry.

There are four levels of Home Care Packages:

• Level 1 supports people with basic-care needs
• Level 2 supports people with low-level care needs
• Level 3 supports people with intermediate-level care needs
• Level 4 support people with high-level care needs

People who start receiving a Home Care Package from 1 July 2014 can be asked to pay:

• a basic fee; and

• an income-tested care fee if they have sufficient income.