Knowing what rights you have
You can get a copy of the Charter of Rights and Responsibilities for Home Care and a copy of the Home Care Standards from your home care provider.
Your care plan cannot be changed without your agreement. Your Package Provider must give you a copy of any agreed changes for your records. The Home Care Agreement and care plan should include responsibilities of the Service providers and you and your carers.
Your care needs can change over time and your plan should be amended to meet those changing needs.
Your care needs can change over time andyour plan should be amended to meet those changing needs.
Annie Donaldson
agedcare101 Registered Nurse and Carer
Your plan should be reviewed at least once every 12 months to ensure your care and services are aligned with your needs – again only with your approval.
You can ask for a review of your care plan at any time if your needs change.
Your Package Provider must provide you with your personalized care plan within 14 days of signing a Home Care Agreement.
- They must provide an individualized budget and this, along with your care plan will form part of your agreement.
- They must issue monthly statements so you can keep track of how your funds are being used.
- They must have regular conversations with you as part of the ongoing management of their care. This will ensure that they are aware of any issues and can rectify them early.
If you need help, an advocate can be made available through the National Aged Care Advocacy Program by calling 1800 700 600.
A note on costs
It is not always true to say that brokered services are more expensive than in house services. To help decide if the services put forward by your Package Provider are giving you value for money you could compare the costs with what you could purchase elsewhere. You could even ask your provider for assistance to make this value for money comparison.
