Support at Home funding can feel confusing at first.

There are classifications, budgets, service categories, contributions, care management, short-term pathways, equipment funding and provider pricing.

But the basic idea is easier to understand when you break it down.

Support at Home funding is based on what an older person is assessed as needing to remain living safely at home.

Once someone is assessed and approved, they are assigned a funding classification or pathway. That funding is then used to access approved services.

It starts with an aged care assessment

A person does not simply choose a funding level.

They first apply for an aged care assessment through My Aged Care. The assessment looks at their strengths, areas of difficulty, goals and ageing-related care needs.

If they are eligible, a support plan is developed. This outlines the services they are approved for under the Support at Home service list.

Ongoing Support at Home classifications

For ongoing services, Support at Home uses 8 funding classifications.

The classification reflects the person’s assessed level of care need. My Aged Care explains that if someone is approved for ongoing Support at Home services, they are allocated one of the 8 classifications.

This funding is provided as a quarterly budget.

A quarterly budget covers 3 months of the year. How much funding a person receives depends on their ongoing classification. My Aged Care also notes that some unspent budget can be carried over from the previous quarter, up to a set limit.

What does the budget pay for?

The budget pays for approved services in the person’s care plan and individualised budget.

That might include clinical supports, independence services or everyday living services.

Provider prices matter because each Support at Home provider sets different prices for services and care management. My Aged Care states that providers must publish their full price list online and that charges come out of the person’s quarterly budget.

For families, this means it is worth asking:

• What services are approved?
• How often will they be delivered?
• What does the provider charge?
• How much of the budget will each service use?
• Will there be a personal contribution?

Clinical Supports, Independence Services and Everyday Living Services

Support at Home services are grouped into three categories.

Clinical Supports may include allied health and nursing services.

Independence Services may include personal care, respite and transport.

Everyday Living Services may include domestic assistance, home maintenance and repairs.

The category matters because contribution rules are different.

The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing states that participants do not contribute to the cost of clinical supports. Most participants will contribute to independence and everyday living services depending on their circumstances.

What about assistive technology and home modifications?

Assistive technology and home modifications are handled through a separate pathway under Support at Home.

My Aged Care explains that AT-HM funding is upfront and separate from other Support at Home services. This means a person does not need to save up their individual budget to access approved assistive technology or home modifications.

This can include equipment such as mobility aids, shower chairs, communication products or adaptive kitchen items, as well as home modifications such as grab rails, ramps and handrails.

Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy assessments can be important when equipment, function, mobility or home safety are part of the person’s needs.

What are the short-term pathways?

Support at Home also includes short-term pathways.

These include the Restorative Care Pathway, the End-of-Life Pathway and the Assistive Technology and Home Modifications scheme.

The Restorative Care Pathway provides access to coordinated allied health and/or nursing services to help a person regain function and delay the need for long-term care.

This may be relevant after a decline in function, illness, injury or hospital stay.

How Bloom Healthcare fits in

Bloom Healthcare does not decide someone’s Support at Home funding. That is determined through the aged care assessment and government process.

Where Bloom can help is with the allied health services that may form part of a person’s approved support.

This may include Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Exercise Physiology, Speech Pathology, Psychology/Counselling and Dietitian support.

Our role is to help turn funding and care plans into practical support that improves safety, function and quality of life at home.

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