Support at home program consultation to begin soon

The government will soon begin consultation on critical design elements for the new Support at Home Program, being developed in response to the final report of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.

The program will replace the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP), the Home Care Packages (HCP) Program, Short-Term Restorative Care Programme (STRC) and residential respite programs.

To be developed in consultation with senior Australians and community stakeholders, the program will address the Royal Commission’s recommendations to support senior Australians to stay in their homes for longer.

This Support at Home Program Overview Paper outlines the proposed program design. It discusses key aspects of the program and provides a consultation plan for 2022.

The government will be consulting on design elements of the program including:

• more consistent and accurate assessment arrangements that recognise not all people need intensive assessments;
• a modern classification and funding system ensuring the support senior Australians receive aligns with their assessed care needs;
• an increased choice of providers across all types and levels of home care;
• a focus on care management in assessment and funding arrangements;
• better support for informal carers;
• more support for early interventions to help people remain independent at home for longer.
   

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/Jacob Lund