But how do you find out these things or even know where to start. The first place to go is your doctor who can refer you to these services, after that you will receive a phone call from a health professional who will identify themselves and make a time to come out and see you in your home to discuss and assess your care needs, they will ask a lot of questions that will help them to figure out what sort of services you need and that could include cleaning, gardening, help with shopping or a variety of other options for those living in the community. Options for residential care can be a bit more confusing which is why is often beneficial to engage a professional placement consultant to help you work through the aged care information maze. But back to the RAS, once you have been assessed and approval given, you will then receive a letter which tells you what level of care you are entitled to and how many hours service you are entitled to each week or fortnight. Whether that is HACC which standards for Home and Community Care or a Community Care Package which has different levels for those with higher care needs. There is of course a cost involved and this is dependent on the package of care you have been approved for and to a degree your income, for example a pensioner would pay less than a self-funded retiree.
Then of course there is choosing a service provider which in regional WA means that you won’t have as much choice as someone living in the Perth metro where there are more service providers but, what you will get are fully trained staff who are dedicated, caring and professional, because at the end of it all if having someone come and help you with your housework or shopping means you can stay in your own home, it is well worth considering.
For more information on how an Aged Care Placement Consultant may be able to assist you for a reasonable fee,
please contact Wendy at Care Connections on :
0475 417 768
or email info@careconnections.net.au