Priority and waitlists

All Government funded HCPs are managed through a national Government funded pool – meaning that once approved you will be placed in a ‘queue’ based on priority of personal needs and circumstances, as well as the time you have been waiting for care since your assessment.

Currently across Australia, there are about 50,000 people waiting to access a Government funded HCP, with some recipients facing a wait of six months.

If you have to wait to access your approved package, like many other older Australians, it is important to be aware that there are still a number of options available to you to ensure that you receive the care you need as quickly as possible.

Some more easily accessible interim care options to consider include:

◆ CHSP services – i f you have been found eligible for a HCP but there are no packages available you may be allocated CHSP funding while you wait. (see page 112 for more information on CHSP)

◆ Community/Council services

– depending on where you live, there are a number of options that may be available to you through either your local community – like the church – or even through your council.

◆ The support of friends and family – many older Australians rely on the care and support of their loved ones, sometimes even on top of the official home care they are eligible for. It is important to remember though that depending on your care needs, relying on family and friends can be tough on them, especially for long periods of time. (Read more about informal supports on page 94)

◆ Private home care – if you can afford to pay for your own care for the time you are expected to wait to access your approved HCP, this is a great option. You can pay to receive the services that you need for as long as you need (see page 116 for more information on private home care) to read about options while waiting

◆ Accepting a lower level HCP –while waiting for a Level 3 or 4 HCP, you may be able to temporarily access a Level 1 or 2 package instead. Doing so will not lose you the place in the waitlist for your approved higherlevel package.

Once you are at the front of the HCP queue and a package is assigned to you, you can begin to receive care from the provider of your choice. From the date your package is assigned, you have 56 days to find a provider and commence services. You have 84 days to start receiving care or the package will be returned to the national pool and assigned to the next person in the queue. If you’re struggling to find a provider you can request an extension.

If you require urgent care and can’t wait, you may be eligible to receive temporary home care services before an assessment takes place. Call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 to find out more.