Home and Community Care (HACC) Program
If you are caring for an ageing family member who is becoming increasingly frail and needs some general assistance at home, The Home and Community Care (HACC) Program could be of help to you.
The Home and Community Care (HACC) Program helps older people, their carers or anyone with a disability remain independent in the home for longer. In some cases, people can avoid residential aged care.
The government provides these services in partnership with local service providers. Both private and public, charitable and church organisations can deliver HACC services in Australia.
To be eligible for HACC program a person must:
- Be an older person living at home
- Require help with activities of daily living, such as showering, dressing, shopping and cooking
- Be a carer of an older person in need of help at home
- Have a disability
- Be likely to otherwise move into residential aged care
Arranging Home and Community Care (HACC)
An aged care assessment is not needed to access Home and Community Care (HACC). However, organising an aged care assessment early on is advisable. Waiting lists can be long and care needs often change over time.
When choosing an aged care service enquire about case management and check who will be managing your family member's care and how much you need to be involved.
Keeping track of the many community care services that visit a person at home can be confusing. It can help to have one known coordinator who is familiar with your loved one's needs and is a point of contact for all family members.
Depending on your family member's needs a number of aged care services may be organised by a Home and Community Care (HACC) service provider. Fees charged for HACC services will vary between states and territories.
In home care could include one or a combination of the following:
- Personal care - showering, dressing and toileting
- Transport - getting to the shops and medical appointments
- Household chores - help with general housekeeping and the garden
- Meals - help with food shopping, meals on wheels, meal preparation
- Community nursing - access to trained nurses
- Respite care - giving carers a break
- Home modification and equipment - assistance to modify the home and organise equipment such as grab rails and ramps
Helpful resources
- Contact The Commonwealth Carelink Centre on 1800 200 422 to find a service in your area.
- Ring the local council for information about senior home care service providers in your area.
- Ring private nursing agencies directly. Look online for nursing care using the key words aged care services, nursing services, nursing agencies, home care.
- Call the Aged Care Information Line 1800 500 853
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