Private vs government-funded elderly care: what’s best for your loved one?
Older Australians can access both government-funded and private aged care services, each with different costs, eligibility rules and flexibility. Understanding the differences between these options can help you or your loved ones make informed choices about the right support at home or in care.
Elderly care is currently one of the most invested programmes by the Australian government. Over 1.3 million Australians are estimated to be currently receiving aged care services with a significant increase over the years. Given this growing population of elders, there is a focus on providing them with the right and deserved care.
The government through various programmes like the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP), Home Care Packages, and the soon-to-be-launched Support at Home program have been committed to providing quality elderly care services to all citizens who are 65 and above (50 and above for Aboriginals). However, there is always a limit to every government-funded programme like eligibility and the long list of applicants.
But you or your loved ones don’t necessarily have to wait for the government-funded programme. You can go for private aged care services. With private aged care services, you don’t need to meet certain requirements as outlined by the government. We will try to explain everything you need to know about choosing between the two elderly care options so you can make informed choices.
Understanding the two elderly care options
Every Australian aged 65 and above is entitled to aged care services. This service can be government-funded or private. Both care types are good and offer a wide range of services. But in case you are divided about which to choose for a better support with respect to your needs, we will help you. First, you have to understand how both care types work.
Government-funded elderly care
Government-funded aged care referees to services that the government offers to older adults to help them live better, especially at home. These are provided under different programs such as Home Care Packages (HCP), Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP), and the Support at Home Program which will be launched soon.
The government offers support and funding to participants of these programmes. With the provided support, elders can live comfortably and independently at home. The funding helps you to take care of your day-to-day needs and other financial needs you might have.
To access these programmes, you are required to meet certain eligibility requirements and pass an assessment by My Aged Care, the official providers of government-funded aged care services in Australia. The eligibility requirements include:
You must be 65 years and above or at least 50 for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
Require assistance at home
Have physical or cognitive impairments
Homeless or at risk of becoming homeless
If you’re 65 and above or you have a loved one within the age bracket, you should check to see if you’re eligible for government-funded aged care services.
Government-funded aged care programmes offer a wide range of services, each tailored to the receiver’s basic needs and satisfaction. Depending on your needs, the services provided include:
Help at home
Here, your needs will be taken care of by trained caregivers in your home. You have nothing to worry about if you find it difficult to go through your day because you can’t perform tasks such as:
Cooking
Cleaning
Laundry
Bathing
Moving around
Using the bathroom
All these and more will be taken care of by caregivers who are trained to provide you with personalised services to meet your needs. Health professionals are also included in case you have health issues that may require a routine check-up and monitoring.
Short term care
If you need help after being discharged from the hospital or just had surgery, short-term care is your best choice. You will be provided adequate support to help you get the much-needed rest for quick recovery. You will receive help with:
Meal preparation
Home arrangement
Mobility
Bathroom assistance
Medication monitoring
Monitoring for fall risks
Taking a walk when necessary
Physiotherapy is applicable, etc.
Aged care homes
For those who can’t live independently, you have the option of moving into a retirement home. You will receive adequate care and support at a subsidised rate as set by the government.
Private elderly care services
Private elderly care services are very much like the government-funded ones. The only difference is in the funding. While the government provides funding and subsidies in the government-funded elderly care, individuals have to pay out of their pockets for private aged care services. Private aged care is provided by individuals or corporate agencies for a price, according to your needs.
In private elderly care, there are no eligibility criteria or assessments. You can hire a professional caregiver to help you in any way you deem fit. In light of this, private care is your go-to option if you happen not to be eligible for government-funded aged care services even though you need the help.
Services under private care include
Private home care services for those who wish to remain at home while maintaining independence and dignity
Retirement community services if you wish to be a part of one and be taken care of by trained caregivers
Private nursing home services for those who wish to go into a nursing home.
Basically, private aged care provides the same services as the government-funded one. The only difference is that you have to pay for the services you receive. So if you wish to switch from a government-funded care package to a private one or add it to your government-funded care package, rest assured that you will receive as much care as you’ve been receiving all along.
Differences between private and government-funded elderly care services
Different people have different opinions about which elderly care service is better. To answer the question, certain factors will have to be examined and only after then can you choose which you believe is better, according to your needs. To start off, let’s talk about the cost as it’s usually the crux of the matter for many people.
Cost comparison and affordability
When it comes to affordability, government-funded aged care services take the lead. Under government-funded aged care services, you receive monthly funding which can be used for a number of needs like:
Personal care
Meal preparation
Laundry and house cleaning
Health care needs
Home modifications
Transport support
Assistance with social life
Assistive technology
Respite care
All these services and more will be provided through the funding. The funding doesn’t exactly cover everything but you get to pay less through subsidies and set contribution caps. This way, you receive all the services you need in exchange for a small amount of contribution. Unless you require extra services not covered by the funding, you are good to go with handling the cost.
On the other hand, private aged care services come at a relatively high cost. You have to undertake payment for all the services you receive. Service charge may be calculated hourly or daily, depending on your agreement with the provider or private caregiver. Without government regulation, different providers offer their services at a wide range of prices.
Realistically, government-funded aged care is the way to go if you are not financially buoyant. Without enough pension funds or support from well-to-do family members, you will find it difficult to pay for private aged care services.
Quality of care and service delivery
Quality of care can be seen from different perspectives. When it comes to deciding which aged care services provide better quality care, we can analyse it from three perspectives: training, availability and flexibility.
Training
When it comes to training, government-funded elderly care can be said to be ahead. This is because government-approved providers ensure adequate screening and training before hiring a support worker. In addition, workers are bound to discharge their duties with diligence as misconduct can lead to punishment.
This is not to say that private aged care providers do not screen or train their workers but without government supervision, one cannot be sure of the hiring standard in place. Private support workers may or may not have the needed experience to perform their duties diligently.
Availability
Due to the large number of participants in the government-funded programmes, the private aged care providers are relatively more available. Providing you with the right care when you need it is important, hence a good reason to consider private aged care services.
Flexibility
Private aged care services offer more flexibility than the government-funded ones. While the government is trying hard to ensure that services are tailored to every participant’s needs, there are still obstacles that must be overcome. Private care services are available at your disposal as long as you can pay, unlike the government-funded ones which limit the services provided to only the basic needs of the participant.
Personalisation and control
Personalisation is an important aspect of elderly care. Due to individual differences and differences in needs, no two individuals have exactly the same needs, hence a need to tailor services provided accordingly. In this aspect, the private aged care providers tend to offer better personalisation than their government-funded counterparts.
In private aged care, the care receiver as well as their family can decide the kind of services they want and how they want them. Whereas in the government-funded care, services provided are mostly according to assessment which may or may not cover all the major needs of the participants.
However, efforts have been in motion to ensure a more flexible service option for government-funded aged care services. With the rolling out of the Support at Home program by November 1, care receivers will have more control over the kind of services they receive and how effectively their needs can be taken care of. This is a much-needed improvement which will give the government-funded elderly care programme a more efficient structure.
Combining both for better outcomes
Man’s needs are insatiable. According to Petyr Baelish, a character in the popular TV show, Game of Thrones, “It doesn’t matter what we want, once we get it, we want something else.” As a care receiver, your support needs evolve over time and somehow, the things you needed the most in the past may become the least of your needs as time goes by.
With these evolving needs comes the extra support and care you would require. As a government-funded elderly care receiver, these services may go beyond the scope of your support package. In such a situation, you might consider adding private care services to augment the situation.
This hybrid elderly care service offers more benefits than the individual services alone. You get to enjoy more flexibility and support of any kind without limits. A case study will help you understand this better.
Mr Smith is a participant in the government-funded elderly care programme. However, he has cancer. But he won’t stay in the hospital or nursing home, rather he has chosen to be at home. The government-provided elder care services manage his day-to-day requirements, ensuring his comfort at home.
However, he needs more than just that. He needs someone to monitor his condition and take emergency measures to keep him stable. This would require having a health professional around. So he hires a private nurse who comes in to ensure he’s adhering to his medication and taking his vitals to ascertain any development.
Mr Smith pays extra for the private nursing care but it’s worth it. His family and loved ones will rest assured that he’s in safe hands. That is the beauty of a synergy between private and government-funded elderly care services.
How to decide what’s best for your loved one
Knowing the pros and cons of both private and government-funded elderly care services may not be enough. Yes, you know what each service type offers but how do you know it’s the right one for your loved one? To solve this puzzle, here are some important questions to ask yourself:
How urgent is your loved one’s need?
If your loved one needs urgent assistance, you should consider private care. The reason is that the application process and long wait list associated with government-funded elderly care may endanger your loved one’s life. When it comes to quick service delivery, go for private care as they are always ready to offer their services without ado.
On the other hand, if your or your loved one’s needs are not immediate, then wait for government-funded aged care services. You can start early by getting all the information you need about eligibility criteria, support options and related fees from My Aged Care. Equipped with the right information, you can fast-track your enrollment into the programme.
For example, you can start now to learn everything you need to know about the soon-to-be launched Support at Home program to be a part of the first recipients of the numerous benefits of the programme.
What is your loved one’s current health status?
If your loved one has health issues in addition to being old, you may consider getting them private aged care. Private care workers are more readily available to assist your loved ones with health-related support of any kind. However, if you find out that your loved one’s needs are within the provisions of the government-funded elderly care services, then you can go with it.
For support involving help with cognitive and/or mobility needs as well as chronic health conditions, you should probably get private aged care services. Here you can hire the right professional (s) to handle your loved one’s case, ensuring they are alright at all times.
What’s your financial Situation?
As explained earlier, private care is expensive compared to government-funded elderly care services. There are no subsidies to help reduce costs so you have to pay in full for all your services. Also remember that as your needs keep evolving, so does the cost of providing for them increase.
Getting government-funded elderly care should be fundamental in this case. So you start off with your immediate needs which the government-funded services can take care of, then you could go for a hybrid support when these needs go beyond your support plan provisions.
What’s your availability?
You may want to still be involved in the care of your loved one such that you go for respite care where a caregiver comes in from time to time to take care of your loved one while you’re at work, on holiday, or just getting some rest. In this case, government-funded care is okay. Not much needs to be done. The caregiver can come in from time to time to check on your loved one while you stay with them and make sure they are safe and comfortable.
If you still can’t decide which support type you should go for, consider speaking to a support provider. They will provide you with a clearer understanding of the available support options for both and how effective they can be in providing for your needs.
Conclusion
Private and government-funded elderly care services share many similarities in services provided but differ in how these services are delivered and the costs of accessing them. While private aged care services may be expensive due to a lack of government funding, they offer a better value for your money. Government-funded elderly care services on the other hand come at a subsidised rate, allowing you to save money for other needs. Understanding that each of the two care options has its own pros and cons and that your decision to choose either of them should depend on your needs would go a long way in helping you make the right choice
Source: This article was originally published on https://www.agedcareguide.com.au/talking-aged-care/private-vs-government-funded-elderly-care-whats-best-for-your-loved-one. Reproduced with permission of Care & Co Media.
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