Ageing at Home
Remain independent and healthy
To assist senior Australians with living independently in their own homes, the Australian Government has created the Support at Home (SaH) Program.
Mallacoota Cares provides local, fully coordinated support to manage your SaH so you can continue to live safely and independently in the remote communities of Mallacoota, Gipsy Point, and Genoa.
Why Mallacoota Cares?
Mallacoota Cares has local knowledge and understands the challenges that come with living in a regional, remote area. Whether you live in a township or on a rural property, we offer you the support to remain living at home as long as it is safe to do so. We partner with Trilogy Care who provides aged care coordination and support SaH, while Mallacoota Cares helps with local, community-based support and connections.
We will work alongside you to:
Confidently organise care
We can help you navigate government support including SaH and preparing for the Aged Care Assessment.
Find care workers
We can help with finding locals to provide services, scheduling tasks and managing your budget. We run compliance checks to ensure all support workers have a registered ABN, current insurance, and any licences required to carry out their specific tasks.
Receive care
Mallacoota Cares is your partner for ongoing care and we will regularly check in with you to see how you are going.
We also welcome people who are interested in providing services for those who are ageing at home under a Support at Home package, email us here if you are interested.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I start with Aged Care?
All aged care services are coordinated through My Aged Care, your starting point for accessing Australian Government funding programs. Call them on 1800 200 422 or go to their website, myagedcare.gov.au.
What is an ACAT assessment?
The Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) will assess your health, lifestyle and living situation. It is a government-led assessment and based on the information received, and the level of care, they will grant you a package based off the eight levels of funding.
Why would I use Mallacoota Cares?
Mallacoota Cares was set up to help our ageing population to live well locally. We are a volunteer run charity organisation that has been advocating for our community since 2016 and our personalised service is unmatched. We know this can be an overwhelming time, and navigating the program can be confusing. Our model of care is completely unique to Mallacoota and we have the expertise and local connections needed when living in a remote, regional area. We can help you navigate the process including your Aged Care Assessment.
My family doesn’t live in Mallacoota, what do I tell them?
We would be happy to provide advice to your family members, and step them through the process.
Will I be able to stay at home?
The aim of the Support at Home program is to help older Australians live at home independently as long as it is appropriate and safe to do so. The Aged Care Assessment determines the type and amount of support you may need depending on your individual needs, health and personal circumstances.
Sometimes a person’s care needs become too complex to be safely managed at home, even with support. If this happens, talking with your family, doctor and the Mallacoota Cares team can help you explore the options that best support your health, wellbeing and quality of life.
What services will I receive?
Following your Aged Care Assessment you may be eligible for:
Personal care
Nursing and allied health services
Strength and Balance classes
Domestic assistance (cleaning, laundry)
Meal preparation
Mental Health support
Transport
Home modifications
Respite and short term restorative care
Do I have to pay?
The Aged Care Assessment is used to determine your eligibility for government-funded care while further means testing through Services Australia will help calculate what you may pay for services including answering any questions about your pension. As everyone’s circumstances are different, there may be a gap payable for services and a co-contribution fee. Mallacoota Cares does not set provider prices but has the local knowledge to co-ordinate the services for you at home. We also run free drop-in sessions to provide information to help you live well locally.
How much time does it take?
Most Australians are eligible for Support at Home packages from age 65. As the entire process can take upwards of several months, Mallacoota Cares recommends you start thinking about your care well before you need it.
Useful links
Start your journey
We run free face-to-face information sessions. We publish the dates for these on our Facebook page.
Whether you’re curious about support at home, don’t know where to start, or have commenced your journey, contact us.
