Waiting for Home Care? Discover Interim Support Solutions

You’ve done the paperwork, had the assessment, and finally received the letter: you’re approved for a Home Care Package. The only problem? You’re on the waiting list, and the support you need feels months away. This waiting period is stressful, but it doesn’t have to mean managing alone while you wait for your package to be assigned.

Navigating the Home Care Package Waiting List: Your Immediate Options

The official government-endorsed “bridging” solution is the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP). This program provides My Aged Care interim support designed to help with a few specific tasks. Think of it as a way to get immediate help with essential Commonwealth Home Support Programme services, like cleaning or transport, without affecting your place in the queue for your more comprehensive package.

The Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP): Your Bridging Solution

The easiest way to understand the CHSP vs Home Care Package difference is with an analogy. The CHSP is like a subsidised ‘set menu’—you choose from a list of specific services and pay a small contribution for what you use. In contrast, a Home Care Package is a flexible budget you can spend as you choose. Based on your assessment, you may already be eligible to access these helpful CHSP services today.

How to Access CHSP Services While You Wait

Accessing these services isn’t automatic; you need to be proactive. Even if you’ve been approved for a Home Care Package, you must specifically ask for interim support while you’re on the national queue. This is a crucial step to getting help in place sooner rather than later.

Your next move is to phone My Aged Care. When you speak to a representative, clearly state your needs. The most effective way to start the conversation is by saying, “I am on the waiting list for a Home Care Package, and I need a referral for interim support through the CHSP.” This simple sentence provides all the information they need to begin the process.

Following this request, an assessor from a Regional Assessment Service (RAS) will likely contact you. Their role is to discuss your situation and approve specific, subsidised services to act as aged care bridging support. But what if the CHSP doesn’t offer enough flexibility for your needs?

When Private Funding Offers More Flexibility

Sometimes the subsidised support from CHSP isn’t quite enough, or you need help with a task it doesn’t cover. This is where using private funding for in-home care offers complete control. Instead of waiting for a government assessment for each service, you can directly engage a provider for exactly the help you need, often starting within days. This “pay-for-service” model is the fastest route to getting immediate in-home care for seniors.

This flexibility comes with a different cost structure. As a guide, you can expect to pay for private services on an hourly basis, often ranging from $50 to $65 per hour, depending on the provider and type of care. While this is more than the subsidised CHSP fee, you are paying for immediate access and the ability to tailor services to your exact schedule and needs, which can be invaluable for your peace of mind.

Many families find a “top-up” approach works best. You might use the subsidised CHSP for weekly housekeeping and then arrange for a privately-funded carer to help with showering a few mornings a week. This hybrid model allows you to manage the cost of private home care while waiting, ensuring all crucial needs are met. It’s an effective way of solving specific safety and well-being concerns immediately.

Solving Specific Safety and Well-being Concerns Immediately

Concerns about mobility and fall prevention often can’t wait. A great first step is talking to a GP, who can create a care plan and refer you or your loved one to an allied health professional, such as a physiotherapist. These specialists can help improve strength and balance, and you don’t need to go through the aged care system to access them, making it a powerful tool for managing at home while waiting for aged care.

For immediate peace of mind, especially if a parent lives alone, you can purchase assistive technology directly. A personal alarm or fall detection device is a perfect example. These can be bought online or from specialist stores and set up within a day, providing an emergency lifeline long before a government package is in place.

Beyond physical support, tackling isolation is crucial for wellbeing. Many local councils and community centres offer community transport services to help people get to appointments or social events. These low-cost, volunteer-based programs are excellent alternatives to waiting for a home care package to fund social outings and are a fantastic way to stay connected.

Will Interim Support Affect My Place on the Waitlist?

This is often the biggest worry for families: if we get some temporary help now, will we be penalised or lose our place in the queue? The answer is a clear and simple no. Seeking other support while on the home care waitlist will not affect your position for a future Home Care Package.

Your spot is managed by a formal, national system based on the priority level and approval date from your ACAT assessment. This queue, officially called the National Priority System, is designed to be fair and consistent. It isn’t influenced by whether you are using other services, like the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) or private care, to get by in the meantime.

In fact, the system is designed with this gap in mind. The government encourages you to access interim support to stay safe and well. You can and should get the help you need now, with full confidence that it will not impact your waiting times for the more comprehensive package you’ve been approved for.

Your Immediate Action Plan: 3 Steps to Take This Week

That feeling of being stuck on a waiting list can be overwhelming, but you now have a practical action plan to get support while you wait for your home care package.

To regain control and give yourself peace of mind, here are three steps you can take this week:

Call My Aged Care to ask about accessing interim Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) services.
Talk to the GP about specific health concerns and referrals to allied health professionals.
Research local private providers to understand costs for filling any immediate gaps.

Taking even one of these small actions today begins to transform the wait from a period of uncertainty into a period of proactive care.

Need Support Today on the Gold Coast?

Don’t wait to get the care you need. Cura provides a range of flexible and compassionate aged care services to support you and your loved ones while you await your Home Care Package. Whether you’re looking for assistance through the CHSP or require private in-home support, our team is here to help.