Community Care
Community Aged Care Packages
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Community Aged Care Packages (CACPs) are individually planned and coordinated packages of care, tailored to help frail older Australian’s remain living in their own homes. They are funded by the Australian Government to provide for the complex care needs of older people.
Help Available
CACPs are very flexible and designed to help with individual care needs. The types of services that may be provided as part of a package include:
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Personal care (showering, grooming, dressing & fitting of aids)
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Social support
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Transport to appointments
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Home help (cleaning, laundry, shopping & banking)-
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Meal preparation
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Medications - conditions apply
Care Provider
The Australian Government provides Amaroo with a daily subsidy per package to supply and coordinate care services for frail older people.
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Accessing CACP
To receive a CACP, you must be assessed by an Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) as requiring at least low level care. Information on ACATs is available from doctors, hospitals and community centres or by phoning the Aged Care Information Line on 1800 500 853 or Commonwealth Respite & Carelink Centres on 1800 052 222.
ACAT assessments are free of charge. If your ACAT assessment approves you for low level care and you have expressed a preference to be cared for in your home, the ACAT will refer you to a local service provider like Amaroo who may offer you a CACP if there is one available.
CACP Arrangement
When Amaroo accepts you, a package of services will be tailored to meet your needs as assessed by the ACAT. Amaroo staff will discuss the options available for meeting your care needs and an agreement will be created.
You, your family or representatives including your carer have the right to negotiate with Amaroo on the types and levels of care to be provided. After you have agreed on your care, Amaroo will give you a copy of your agreement and care plan.
Fees & Payment
You can be asked to pay a fee for a CACP. The amount charged forms part of your agreement between yourself and Amaroo.
For people receiving the maximum basic rate of the single pension, fees must not exceed 17.5% of that pension. The maximum fees change each March and September, in line with the changes to the pension. The current maximum fee is available from the Department of Health and Ageing website: www.health.gov.au or by calling the Aged Care Information Line on 1800 500 853.
People on higher incomes may be asked to pay additional fees.
Amaroo must inform you of its fees policy. No one will be denied a service they need, based on inability to pay fees.
Quality of Service
The Australian Government has specified Community Care Standards, which Amaroo are legally required to meet, to ensure care recipients receive the highest quality of care.
Recipients of a CACP (or their representative) are entitled to:
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Quality services that meet their assessed needs;
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Where possible, their preferred level of social independence;
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Having their dignity and privacy respected at all times;
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Access information about care options available and the facts they need to make informed choices;
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Access to the details of the care being provided; and
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The ability to take part in developing a package of service that best meets their needs.
Your Rights and Responsibilities
The Australian Government has introduced the Charter of Rights and Responsibilities for Community Care.
The Charter is a legal document that explains the rights of people receiving aged care services in the community, as well as their responsibilities towards care workers.
You will be provided with a copy of this document.
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Complaints Procedure
If you, or your family or representative are not happy with the service provided, you have a right to complain.
The Australian Government has put arrangements in place for people to do this. If after talking to Amaroo the issue has not been resolved The aged care Complaints Investigation Scheme is available, they can be contacted on 1800 550 552.
Recipients of a CACP, their family and their representatives are also able to access advocacy services. Advocacy services help people find out what they are entitled to. For information on advocacy services, please contact the Aged Care Information Line on 1800 500 853.
Further Information
For further information please contact our Community Care Co-Ordinator on (08) 9490 3899 or Enquire Now
To download this information in a printable PDF brochure click here