My Aged Care

Home Care Packages

The Digital Literacy Foundation is committed to helping older Australians to stay independent for longer. We understand that being competent and confident online is a crucial life skill.

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The Australian Government established My Aged Care (MAC) as a ‘one stop shop’ for information on aged care services in Australia, providing access to a range of services that help individuals to maintain independence and purpose as they age.

As a MAC service provider, the Digital Literacy Foundation is committed to helping older Australians to stay independent for longer. We understand that being competent and confident online is a crucial life skill.

By registering with MAC, the Digital Literacy Foundation can provide you with one-on-one, face-to-face digital mentoring sessions throughout the Nepean ACPR. This mentoring can occur:

  • In your own home.
  • Through one of our hubs or events.
  • In a public space located near to you, such as a library or café.

Being Competent and Confident Online

An increasing range of day-to-day activities are online, and those of us who are off-line risk being digitally excluded.

Unsurprisingly, many older people in our community who were not born into the digital age are particularly affected. Indeed, anyone over 50 years of age did not have:

  • Regular access to computers or technology at school or at home,
  • Exposure to digital technologies,
  • Routine computer use, or
  • The need to acquire digital skills for work.

The Australian Digital Inclusion Index (ADII) found that adults over 65 years of age have the lowest levels of digital ability in our community, as outlined in the table below.

Digital Ability Comparison

Australian Digital Inclusion Index. (2022). Digital Ability

However, we know that the benefits of becoming digitally literate are significant, especially for those who are geographically isolated, housebound, or limited by poor – or no – access to personal or public transport. These benefits include:

  • Increased access to health information.
  • Access to telehealth
  • The convenience to shop and bank online.
  • Staying connected with friends and family using email or social networks.
  • Greater access to entertainment (such as streaming and gaming).
  • Improved mental health.
  • Greater feelings of
  • Reduced social isolation and depression.

With a MAC Home Care Package, we can provide you with targeted digital mentoring that is completely Learner-led, empowering you to decide what you would like to learn, how, and when.

“You make the sessions so enjoyable and are so patient with me.”
Julie
Learner

FAQs

What does MAC provide?

My Aged Care helps people over 65 access Home Care Packages. The government funds these services to help older adults to stay in their own home and keep active in the community.

How do I get a Home Care Package?

You need to register with MAC to be assessed to decide what level of package you need. Once you have a package, it stays in place for the long term. If things change, you can be re-assessed in order that you can access more services.

What is My Aged Care?

What is the process to get a Home Care Package?

There are 7 essential steps to receiving a Home Care Package

Step 1

Contact My Aged Care to check your eligibility on 1800 200 422 or online here – if you are attending one of our events or hubs, one of our Tech Mates can help you with this.

If you are eligible, you will be advised of the type of assessment best for your situation. There are two types of assessment that are used to work out your care needs, and what types of care you may be eligible for:

  • If it sounds like you need low-level support to stay independent in your home, the contact centre may recommend a home support assessment with a Regional Assessment Service (RAS) assessor. Low-level support is provided through the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP).
  • If it sounds like you have care needs that are greater than what the Commonwealth Home Support Programme can support, a comprehensive assessment with an Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) assessor may be recommended.

Step 2

An assessor will arrange a time to visit you at your home. For an assessment, you should have to hand:

  • Your Medicare card and one other form of ID proof (such as DVA card, driver’s license, healthcare card, or passport).
  • Have a copy of any referrals from your doctor.
  • Consider whether you would like a support person present.
  • Have to hand any information you already have about aged care services that you may want to discuss.
  • Have contact details for your GP or other health professionals.
  • Consider whether you need special assistance to communicate, such as a translator or Auslan interpreter.
  • Have information to hand about any support you receive.

What will they ask?

  • How you are managing day-to-day.
  • What services you would like to apply for.
  • Permission to speak with your doctor.

Step 3

Once you have been found eligible and have had an assessment, you will receive a package approval letter from My Aged Care to let you know your approved level of funding. Once you have been approved to receive support, you’ll join a national waiting list.

There are two ways to find information on your place in the national priority system and your expected wait time:

Step 4

There are things you can do while you wait, such as gathering information so that you’re prepared once you’re assigned a package:

Step 5

Once you have moved to the top of the waiting list, you will receive another letter from My Aged Care. This will let you know that you have been allocated a Home Care Package, and you can now start choosing the services you want.

Step 6

Your level of funding will determine the services that are available to you. You have 56 days from the date of your letter to enter into a Home Care Agreement with your chosen provider.

If you don’t enter into a Home Care Agreement within that period, your package will expire. It will then be allocated to the next person on the national priority system.

If you can’t find a suitable provider during this time, you can call My Aged Care and ask for an extension of 28 days.

Step 7

Contact your Home Support Partner with your unique referral code to start receiving support.

A referral code is your unique reference number for receiving services. You give the referral code to your chosen provider. If you lose your code, you can log in to your My Aged Care Online Account to see it. With the code, a provider can view your client record, accept the referral, and start organising services for you.

What is Digital Mentoring?

Research conducted by the eSafety Commissioner in 2017 found that 72% of Australians over 50 years of age prefer one-on-one mentoring when it comes to improving their digital literacy skills. [1]

[1] Office of the eSafety Commissioner. (2017). Understanding Digital Behaviours of Older Australians. eSafety Research.

The Digital Literacy Foundation’s model recognises this preferred way of learning by ensuring that sessions with our trained Tech Mate volunteers are:

  • Learner led,
  • Learner paced, and
  • Learner developed.

What this means is that each session you receive will be unique to you, and will progress according to your needs, interests, and learning goals. We will also match you with a Tech Mate that meets your needs and preferences, to ensure that you feel safe and comfortable while learning.