Home Care Guide - Home and Community Care (HACC)

The HACC Program provides relatively basic assistance for people who are mostly able to live independently at home, but need a bit of help.

The services that can be provided at home include:

domestic assistance, such as cleaning, clothes washing and ironing personal care, such as help with bathing or showering, dressing, hair care and going to the toilet
home maintenance, such as minor repairs and lawn mowing
home modification, such as installing safety aids like alarms, ramps and support rails
nursing care by a qualified nurse, for things like wound care or providing continence advice.

Additional services that can be provided in the community include:

centre-based day care for social activities in a community-based setting
transport for shopping or appointments
assistance with shopping, banking, appointments, or just to provide company.

If it is hard for you to prepare meals, the services can also include delivering meals to your home, providing meals at a community centre or day centre or helping with shopping, preparing and storing food.

If you have particular health problems, the services can include physiotherapy, podiatry, speech pathology, occupational therapy (help to recover or maintain your physical ability) and advice from a dietician.

If you have a carer, the HACC Program can also provide respite care while your carer has a break.

Eligibility

Unlike Home Care Packages, the HACC Program does not require an assessment by an Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT). However, an assessment will be carried out by a HACC representative to work out exactly what help you need. Eligibility does not depend on age or income, but the HACC program is designed to support people whose capacity for independent living is at risk, or who are at risk of premature admission to long-term residential care. If you have a carer, the basic assessment will take their needs into account to determine how they can best support you.

Cost

The Commonwealth Government funds HACC service providers directly by way of a subsidy, but a fee is also usually payable by the recipient for each service. The fee may vary between different organisations and in different States and Territories, so you will need to contact the relevant HACC service provider to find the specific cost to you. The fee will be agreed with the HACC service provider before the services are provided.

More Information?

Please see the following pages of this Home Care Guide for further information: