Community Care Packages

Older people are choosing to remain at home rather than move into retirement living arrangements or residential care facilities. This trend is supported by the federal government who provides funding for community care packages to help with older peoples care needs in their own home.As Australia's population ages it is necessary for the government to find new and creative ways to provide for our older citizens.
So what is it that older people need to remain in their own homes and not make the move to residential care settings? Often mobility is an issue and the person may no longer be able to perform the tasks they once did due to poor balance, general frailty, lack of strength or due to chronic conditions such as arthritis. Other older people may struggle at home due to problems with memory due to Alzheimers disease or some other form of dementia. The ageing process may present people with challenges in maintaining their independence. They may need help with the following tasks.

• Domestic Duites: such as vacuuming and mopping floors
• Garden Maintainence: such as lawn mowing, pruning and weeding
• Personal Care: help with bathing grooming and dressing
• Meal Preparation: cooking and serving meals
• Medication: Assistance with medication reminders or physical assistance to access medications
• Respite: Provides respite to the carer of an older person to give them a break from caring
• Nursing Services: Wound care, dressings, blood pressure monitoring, prevention of pressure areas.

Some of these tasks can be provided to people through the state funded HACC ( Home and Community Care) Program which provides basic and temporary assistance whilst people recover from illness or injury or on returning home after a hospital stay.
If a person requires help on a more regular or permanent basis they may be able to access funding for CACP ( Community Aged Care Packages) EACH (Extended Aged care at Home) or EACHD (Extended Aged Care at Home Dementia) Packages from the federal government.
So how are these programs accessed ? They can be accessed in the following ways:

• HACC can be self referred or referral from GP or hospital discharge planner
• CACP must have referral and assessment from ACAT ( Aged Care Assessment Team)
• EACH: must have referral and assessment from ACAT ( Aged Care Assessment Team) 
• EACHD must have referral and assessment from ACAT ( Aged Care Assessment Team)

Aged Care Assessment Team
The aged care assessment team is a team of  registered nurses and social workers who visit the older person in their home to assess their suitability and eligibility to access government funded care packages such as those listed above. They also assess eligibility for placement in residential care and respite care in the home or in a residential facility.
As you can see from this article, the aged care system can be complex and challenging for older people to negotiate. It is therefore important for Aged care workers to have an understanding of the system and it's processes to help the older person and their loved ones and carers negotiate care.
Ther are also some very good private care agencies in most areas who can provide private services that are paid for by the older person, who may not be eligible for funded care or is already accessing funded care but it is not enough to meet the care needs.The services provided by these agencies is similar to those listed above.
Is your undersatnding of the community aged care system adequate to assist an older person?