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What is My Aged Care? A guide to your future
05 March 2020
My Aged Care is the Australian Government's starting point on your aged care journey. Feros Care can help you understand the process.
Has the start of the new decade got you thinking about what the next one holds? If you’re 65 or older, the chances are that you’re contemplating the big issues like health, independence and your finances. If that sounds like you, now is a great time to start exploring the government’s My Aged Care (MAC) services. If you’re new to MAC you’ll be surprised at the range of services available to help you stay healthy, independent, engaged and safe in your own home.
Make the call and get in contact with My Aged Care
But first things first. You’ll need to register with MAC, either online or over the phone, and answer a few questions to find out if you’re eligible for assistance, including a range of in-home care programs. Just remember you need to be 65 years or older, or 50 years or older if you’re Aboriginal or a Torres Strait Islander.
If you’re eligible, the next step is a face-to-face assessment to determine if you need just a bit of in-home support or a lot of ongoing care. Your appointment will be with either a Regional Assessment Service (RAS) assessor or one from the Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT), depending on the level of your needs.
My Aged Care services include Commonwealth Home Support Program for those with low-level needs, Home Care Packages ranging from Level 1 to Level 4 depending on the amount of help you need, Short Term Restorative Care to support you through illness or recovery, Residential Respite Care to give your carer or family a break, assistance to fund the move into Residential Aged Care and Transition Care for those needing a high level of care while waiting for an aged care home position.
Confused already? Don’t worry. As a My Aged Care service provider, Feros Care can help you navigate the system, book your assessment and help you secure the funding and services you need to live the future you aspire to.
Outcome and income - different government fundings
If you’re approved by the assessor for MAC support you’ll be given the lowdown on the level of funding you can access and what services that covers. At this time you’ll also have an Income and Assets assessment, designed to determine what – and if – you’re in a position to partly contribute towards your care.
Now you’ve ticked all the boxes, you’ll still need to wait for your funding to be allocated. So the earlier you get on to it, the better! But you can use this time to explore the My Aged Care providers in your region to see who can best meet your needs both now – and in the future. Read our article on the ABCs of choosing the right aged care provider.
Yay! You’re cashed up - time to choose your services
So your funding has now been allocated and a Feros Care Wellbeing Manager can get the ball rolling for you. This is where we can really get hands-on to help tailor services to meet your personal goals and transform your future.
At each step of the way, it is up to you what you want to spend your funding on within the limitations of your program. Available services will depend on your location, but also the service provider you've chosen to go with. If you want to see a list of services and their associated cost offered by Feros Care, you can do so by clicking here. Alternatively, you can use the free Feros Care Home Care Package Estimator to figure out what contributions you will need to make.
Need to mix it up a bit and change between care options?
Over time, your situation will inevitably change and if you were originally knocked back, you can reapply. Or if you’re receiving a support package, you may now require more assistance. First talk to your My Aged Care provider to see if they can offer more services under your current package, if not, you can contact MAC and request a new assessment with the aim to secure more funding so you can continue to thrive.