My Aged Care - Information.http://www.myagedcare.gov.au/
The My Aged Care website has been established by the Australian Government to
help you navigate the aged care system. My Aged Care is part of the Australian
Government’s changes to the aged care system which have been designed to give
people more choice, more control and easier access to a full range of aged care
services.
My Aged Care is made up of this website and a contact centre. Together they can
provide you with information on aged care for yourself, a family member, friend
or someone you’re caring for. You can call the My Aged Care contact centre on
1800 200 422 between 8am and 8pm on weekdays and between 10am and 2pm on
Saturdays. The My Aged Care contact centre is closed on Sundays and national
public holidays.
You can expect our staff to be polite, helpful and knowledgeable and to provide:
^ prompt, reliable and confidential services^ clear information, which can be
made available: - in languages other than English if you speak another language
and need an interpreter - in other formats if you have hearing difficulties or
a vision impairment^ help to find Government-funded aged care services^
prompt resolution of any complaint or concern you have with My Aged Care.
What help can I get?http://www.myagedcare.gov.au/
For most people, growing older means there are times you find it difficult to
manage day-to-day living activities. You may need help, or you may be caring
for a family member or a friend who needs help, but you just don’t know where
to start or what help you can get.
There are different types of aged care services to support you, whatever your
needs. When you call My Aged Care, our contact centre staff will ask you
questions to help us understand your needs.
How My Aged Care helps you.
My Aged Care helps you find the information you need about aged care services.
This can be as simple as calling the My Aged Care contact centre on 1800 200
422 or reading this website. My Aged Care provides you with information about:
^ different types of aged care services^ eligibility for services^ how we
understand your aged care needs and help you find local services to meet ^
your needs – you are able to select your own service provider^ costs of your
aged care services, including fee
estimators.http://www.myagedcare.gov.au/estimate-fees-for-aged-care-services
To help you find the right services, the contact centre will ask for your
consent to create a personalised client record. A client record holds up to
date information on your needs and any services you receive. The client record
will reduce the need for you to retell your story to the contact centre,
assessors and service providers.
Types of Care.Staying in your own home.There are many different services that
may support you to stay in your own home for longer, including:
Care in an aged care home.Care in an aged care home allows you to live in a
supported environment where help is available when you need it. This can
include access to 24-hour care if you need it.
After-hospital care (transition care).If you have been in hospital and are
ready to be discharged, but you still need more time and support or help to get
back on your feet before you decide about the best place for you to live in the
longer term, then you may benefit from transition care.
Taking a break from caring (respite care).If you are being looked after by a
family member or friend, and need a break from your usual care arrangement,
there are services that can help you or your carer to take a break.
Can I select my own service provider?My Aged Care contact centre staff and
assessors will work with you to select suitable service providers to help with
your care needs. You will get to decide which service providers and how a
referral for service is sent on your behalf.
My Aged Care will ensure the privacy of your information and will ask for your
consent before acting on your behalf.
Why has My Aged Care been established?
The aged care system traditionally has been difficult for individuals, family
and carers to navigate. It has been challenging to easily identify the services
you might need or understand how to receive those services.
My Aged Care, whether through the website or the contact centre, will help you
(or your family or carers) to navigate through the aged care system. The system
can seem daunting, and raises a number of questions that we are here to assist
you with:
^ there’s such a wide range of aged care services – ‘which one do I need and
how do I access it?’^ the services are funded under different government
programs – ‘is it going to cost me anything to receive a service, and what if I
can’t afford to pay?’^ the services will often have their own eligibility
requirements and assessment processes – ‘what will this involve, do I have to
pay for this, who will perform the assessment and where?’
All in all, the system can make aged care seem complex and confusing,
especially if you are urgently seeking information for yourself, or a family
member or friend. It’s often the first step which is difficult for families. My
Aged Care is here to make that first step much easier – we recognise that
seeking to access aged care services can be stressful and emotional for many.
We can assist by providing you with a helping hand to understand the system and
the steps you might need to take. The website also shows that you’re not alone
– many people seek access to aged care services and find them to be a vital
support for them to continue living their lives as independently as possible.
It’s important to understand that there are services that may be able to help
whether you are:
^ finding out about the aged care system for the first time^ looking at your
options following a life event such as a fall, an accident or even the death of
your partner, or perhaps thinking about future needs^ caring for an elderly
relative or friend.
Visit the My Aged Care website for more
information.http://www.myagedcare.gov.au/
