The new Support at Home Program will start from 1st July 2025. The postponement of the Support at Home Program will allow for an extra 12 months to further refine the program design. Existing in-home care programs including the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) and the Home Care Packages (HCP) Program will continue until 30th June 2025.
The 1st July 2025 start date will ensure providers have the time they need to be well prepared for the changes and avoid disruption to customers during the change process.
The Support at Home Program design will continue to be developed through:
- Advice from the new Aged Care Taskforce on funding arrangements and options to make the system fair and equitable for all Australians.
- A pricing study conducted by the Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority to determine fair and efficient prices for home care.
- A study to develop an inclusions and exclusions list for assistive technology and home modifications and advise on the assistive technology needs of older people with progressive conditions
- A study into the provision of higher levels of care in the home, to support people to stay independent and in their own homes for longer.
- A trial of the new integrated assessment tool, tested with up to 20,000 older people entering aged care.
- A trial of an assistive technology loans program to be conducted in association with states and territories.
- Continued consultation sessions with older people, their families and carers, as well as aged care providers and peak bodies.
The Department of Health and Aged Care will provide a fact sheet in the second half of 2023 to help people stay informed about the reforms to in-home aged care.
Once Lifebridge has further information we will be working with our customers to help develop our services ready for transition to the new program.