Many older people in the Northern Territory prefer to remain in their own homes for as long as possible, and you can do so quite independently with the support of our in-home care services, which offer the extra support you need in and around the home. There are several ways you can access our services, depending on your circumstances.

Here is a guide to accessing and funding your help at home.

Commonwealth Home Support Program

This program is designed for people who just need a little extra help to stay independent at home. You can access a range of entry-level services, such as housework, meals or transport, depending on your individual needs. These services can be provided in your home or at one of our centres.

CHSP is ideal if you are mostly independent but would benefit from some additional support to help you continue living safely and comfortably at home.

You may be eligible if you are 65 or older; 50 or older and identify as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person; or 50 or older and on a low income, homeless or at risk of homelessness.

CHSP continues to operate alongside the newer Support at Home program and is expected to transition over time as aged care reforms progress.

The Federal Government, through My Aged Care, effectively gives a grant to providers, which covers your required in-home care services up to a certain value, depending on your circumstances. Learn more at My Aged Care.

Contact our friendly staff on 08 8982 5200 for more information about costs under CHSP.

The first step is to contact My Aged Care (MAC) to arrange an assessment of you or your loved one’s needs. MAC will then refer you to an approved home care service provider of your choice, such as ARRCS. Contact our friendly staff on 08 8982 5200 for more information about costs under CHSP.

Support at Home

Think of this program as a more comprehensive version of the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP). It also helps you remain at home for longer, but provides more flexibility and choice in the home care services it covers. You may be eligible if you are 65 or older; 50 or older and identify as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person; or 50 or older and on a low income, homeless or at risk of homelessness.

The Federal Government provides a package of funding and care to you, and a wide range of services are available to choose from. If you choose ARRCS as your service provider, we will work with you to make sure the services in your package have been tailored to suit your specific needs. Importantly, the program is designed to change as your needs change, so you can be confident you’ll always receive the right care for your situation.

Under Support at Home, the Australian Government provides funding based on your individual care needs, rather than a fixed package level.
Instead of four package levels, there are multiple funding classifications, designed to better match the level of support you require and allow your care to adjust as your needs change over time.

Your funding is provided as a budget to support a range of services, and this budget can be reviewed and updated if your care needs increase or decrease.

The amount of funding you receive depends on your assessed needs, and you may be required to make a contribution towards your care, depending on your financial circumstances. You can explore indicative costs and contributions through My Aged Care.

Your Support at Home funding can be used to access services from a provider of your choice, such as ARRCS. We’ll work with you to deliver the support you need, and you can view our rates and charges for home care services here.

The first step is to contact My Aged Care to arrange an assessment by the Aged Care Assessment Team, who will assess the level of care required and establish how physical and psychological independence can best be maintained. If you are assessed as eligible for an HCP, you will be placed in a national queue. When a package becomes available, you can contact your preferred provider, such as ARRCS, to put together your support plan and schedule your services.

ARRCS can supply home care services as part of a Home Care Package to residents in:

  • Darwin, ph: (08) 8982 5200
  • Katherine, ph: (08) 8972 3399
  • Alice Springs, ph: (08) 8953 2899
  • Tennant Creek/Barkly Region, ph: (08) 8962 1222.

National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged Care

The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged Care (NATSIFAC) program aims to provide culturally appropriate aged care in your home or one of our centres, so you can remain living independently. It may include personal hygiene and grooming, meals, nursing and other home care services. You may be eligible if you are 50 or older and: of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent; identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander; or are accepted by an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander community where you live or come from.

The Commonwealth NATSIFAC program provides funds for these ARRCS services to ensure older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can access culturally appropriate aged care close to home and community.

People who can afford to pay all or some of the costs are required to do so. The maximum fee charged should not exceed 17.5% of the annual single basic aged care pension.

At Tennant Creek, Kaltukatjara (Docker River), Mutitjulu and Nhulunbuy, we can deliver community care as part of the NATSIFAC program, through a mix of residential and home care services to meet community needs. Our nursing staff can assess if a person is suited to the program. For more information, contact our friendly staff on 08 8982 5200.

Fee for service

Under the fee-for-service option, you or your loved one can privately fund your home care services. This might be an option if you:

  • Have been assessed by My Aged Care and found not to be eligible for government funding.
  • Are eligible but waiting for government-funded services to become available.
  • Are receiving government funding but would like to purchase an additional service on top of what that funding allows.

For more information, contact our friendly staff on (08) 8982 5200.

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