The recent Leading Age Services Australia National Congress 2013 was the perfect forum for further discussion relating to Consumer Directed Care and the introduction of the new Home Care Packages and associated fees, and to the provision of funded and unfunded home care provision within the retirement home environment.
Speaker John Underwood told delegates that Home care packages were not an attractive option for self-funded retirees saying “I cannot imagine self-funded retirees ever taking up a level 1 or level 2 package. I can’t imagine many part-pensioners at the upper end taking up too many level 1 or level 2 packages… and I can’t see many self-funded retirees taking up level 3 package assistance because the co-payment is so high.”