How GPs can help seniors access government funded home care

How Gps Can Help Seniors Access Government Funded Home Care

With many seniors around Perth choosing to live in their home as long as possible, a common question asked by patients to their GP is “How can I get help at home?”

At Brightwater, we are passionate about assisting older Australians to stay in their own home, with the support they need.

If you are a GP, we have prepared a simple guide for how you can help your patients access government funded home care.

How to organise home care for your patients

  1. Contact My Aged Care

There are two options – you as the GP or nurse can contact My Aged Care, or the patient can contact them.

GP or Nurse: To refer your patient, go to the My Aged Care website and fill in a referral online, OR call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422.

Patient: The patient can go to the My Aged Care website and fill in the application online OR they can call our Brightwater team on 1300 223 968, and we can guide them through the application process.

  1. Assessment by My Aged Care

My Aged Care will assess the patient to determine their eligibility for the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) or Home Care Package (HCP) funding.

Patients can also choose to pay for their services privately, if they are ineligible for funding.

What services are available?

We provide a wide range of services for seniors at home – whether it be nursing to manage a wound, a cleaner or gardener to take care of the home, or allied health services like physios and occupational therapists who visit your patients at home. Our services are centred on the patient, and include:

Help to keep your patients’ home liveable

  • Cleaning, laundry and other chores
  • Home or garden maintenance
  • Aids to stay independent
  • Change to your patients' home

Help to keep your patients’ well

  • Podiatry, physio and other therapies
  • Reflexology
  • Meals and food preparation
  • Nursing
  • Bathing, hygiene and grooming
  • Pet support
  • Help with dementia
  • Help with continence

Help for your patients’ to get out and about and stay social

  • Social outings, groups and visitors
  • Transport and taxi vouchers
  • Shopping and errands
2How Gps Can Help Seniors Access Government Funded Home Care

Why is Brightwater the right provider for your patients?

Holistic approach to health

We have an inhouse team of health professionals, that includes nurses, physios, OTs and more – who work together to ensure your patients receive the best quality care.

Responsibility for research

We are the only WA home care provider with a dedicated Research Centre – a hub of discovery and innovation, collaborating with national and international universities to find innovative solutions to improve the quality of lives of our clients. Specifically, our Research Centre focuses on brain health, ageing well, independence, dementia care and nutrition.

Dementia specialists

Our Research Centre undertakes important studies that enable better support and an improved quality of life for people living with dementia. Testament to our expertise, we were selected by the Federal Government in 2018 to run the Australian pilot Specialist Dementia Care Unit, accommodating clients who would otherwise require care in a hospital setting and our learning will influence the whole industry in the coming years.

Not-for-profit since 1901

For over 120 years, we’ve been there for West Australians from all walks of life. With humble beginnings in Subiaco, today we provide services all across Perth.

Other articles you may be interested in

All About Falls Article Card Article

All about falls: an introduction

A fall takes a split second to happen, but the consequences can be long-lasting. In this article, our expert physiotherapist shares insights on why falls are so dangerous for older people, common causes of falls, and how to maintain balance and strength as we age.

7 min read
Touring Residential Aged Care Homes Article

Touring residential aged care homes

Choosing a residential aged care home is a big decision. So it makes sense that many families would like to take tours of the home before deciding which home is right for them. Here’s what you need to know about touring residential aged care homes.

4 min read
Looking After Your Emotional Wellbeing At A Difficult Time Article

Looking after your emotional wellbeing at a difficult time

The search for aged care can be emotionally taxing, whether it’s for yourself or a loved one. Here are tips on how to care for yourself during your search.

7 min read

The advice provided on this website is general advice only. It has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on this advice, you should consider the appropriateness of the advice, having regard to your own objectives, financial situation and needs. If any products are detailed on this website, you should obtain a product disclosure statement relating to the products and consider its contents before making any decisions. Where quoted, past performance is not indicative of future performance.

Brightwater Care Group disclaims all and any guarantees, undertakings and warranties, expressed or implied, and is not liable for any loss or damage whatsoever (including human or computer error, negligent or otherwise, or incidental or Consequential Loss or damage) arising out of, or in connection with, any use or reliance on the information or advice in this website. The user must accept sole responsibility associated with the use of the material on this site, irrespective of the purpose for which such use or results are applied. The information in this website is no substitute for specialist advice.