Our Services

We’ve got you covered, whatever your situation.

Your support services depend on your individual situation and are designed to keep you living independently at home.

Below are the most common services which Home Care Packages are used for. However, the list is not exhaustive. If you have a question about a particular service please give us a call.

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Choose local services to support you at home.

Personal Assistance

Grooming, bathing, dressing, continence and mobility.

Meal Preparation

Nutrition, cooking and hydration needs.

Social Support

Support / transport to go to appointments, shopping & social functions.

24 hour Care

Round the clock care that includes sleepovers.

Community Involvement

Support / transport to go get involved with the community.

Medication Monitoring

Ensuring the right medication is taken at the right time.

Companionship

Company at home our out to share moments with and speak to.

Cleaning

Tidying and cleaning for a happy home.

Laundry

Washing, drying, ironing and organising.

Gardening

Keep your garden beautiful with weeding, lawn mowing and pruning.

Respite

Assisting family members to take a well deserved break when needed.

Clinical Care

Specialised healthcare services including nursing.

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Increased transparency through our innovative technology.

At Better Living Homecare we believe transparency is the key to getting more from your Home Care Package. That’s why we’ve developed our innovative tools to help your have more visibility of your funding and care services. This helps you live better at home with the support of great tools.

Introducing, our supplier tool designed to enhance the connection between you, your care providers, and your Care Plan. And our accounts tool that lets you easily check your estimated account balance and view invoices paid.

Want to find out more?

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The following services or items are outside of the Home Care Package program eligibility.

The Department of Health provided some guidance on approved spending and has given us some further feedback on particular services and items that the home care packages cannot pay for.

To make it easier we have listed some of these services and items below:

  • General home services that were never, or are generally not completed independently prior to age-related functional decline, including home repairs/maintenance/specialist cleaning performed by a tradesperson or other licensed professional.
  • Food (except as part of enteral feeding requirements or items listed under food for special medical purposes as per the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code – Standard 2.9.5). 
  • Home insurance
  • Rates
  • Water, sewage, gas and electricity costs
  • Private transport related costs including vehicle registration, vehicle repairs, vehicle insurance and petrol
  • Local transit costs of public bus, ferry or train fares
  • Funeral plans / insurance costs
  • Pet care and associated costs such as pet food; registration; taxidermy, cremation
  • Internet and telephone costs, exceptions include:
  • Care recipients who are homeless or at risk of homelessness (as identified in a care recipient’s ACAT assessment) can use Home Care Package funds for the ongoing monthly charges to ensure connection with service providers
  • Care recipients who require the internet or landline to support delivery of medication management, remote monitoring service or delivery of an included service on the phone can use Home Care Package funds to set-up telecommunications connections (e.g., to get internet connected)
  • Beauty therapy (e.g., manicures) and hairdressing
  • Cost of entertainment activities, such as club memberships and tickets to sporting events
  • Travel and accommodation for holidays
  • Supplies to participate in any activity, e.g. gardening or craft
  • Using Home Care Package funds to pay for solicitors or accountants for maintaining care recipients’ personal affairs
  • Funeral costs and funeral plans
  • Gym or pool memberships/access costs when not prescribed for aged-related functional decline and monitored by health professional operating within their scope of practice.
  • Assistance with home purchase
  • Mortgage payments
  • Rent
  • Permanent residential care (subsidised or private) and residential respite (subsidised)
  • Heating and cooling costs (installation and repairs)
  • Whitegoods and electrical appliances (except items designed specifically for frailty such as a tipping kettle)
  • Household furniture and furnishings:
  • Lounge suites and recliners which do not support a care recipient’s mobility, dexterity and functional care needs and goals
  • Other general household furniture such as coffee tables, wardrobes, and bookshelves.
  • Massage chairs when not prescribed by treating medical practitioner and/or allied health professional
  • General mattress and frame for bed (exceptions for pressure relieving mattress or mattress/frame for an electrical adjustable bed or hospital bed)
  • Replacement/maintenance/servicing/cleaning of:
  • Water tanks
  • Solar panels
  • Fencing
  • Roofs
  • Heating and cooling or hot water systems
  • Swimming pools
  • Home modifications or capital items that are not related to the care recipient’s ageing-related care needs, for example:
  • Windows, roofs, pergolas, sunrooms, decking
  • Home modifications that don’t support ageing safely e.g., non-accessible bathroom and kitchen modifications; non-standard fittings in accessible bathroom modifications (e.g., mosaic tiles)
  • Home modifications requiring development applications
  • Aesthetic modifications of any kind
  • Repainting the home
  • Major plumbing
  • Emptying of septic tank; remedying sewage surcharge (matter for water company/insurer)
  • Major electrical work, e.g., rewiring house
  • Replacement of entire floor and floor coverings throughout the home unless safe passage for mobility equipment required or slip hazard reduction required, as recommended by a health professional for care recipients at risk of falls
  • Replacement of foundation e.g., concrete/cement slab
  • Significant changes to the floorplan of the home, such as adding a new bathroom or extension
  • Extensive gardening services such as:
  • Planting and maintaining crops, natives and ornamental plants
  • The installation and/or maintenance of raised garden beds
  • Compost heaps
  • Watering systems
  • Water features and rock gardens
  • Landscaping
  • Tree removal
  • Removal of garden beds
  • Removal of shrubbery (unless preventing safe access and egress)
  • Defined at section 52D of the Aged Care Act 1997
  • Includes income tested care fees, basic daily fees and additional fees
  • Co-payments for state/territory government funded programs, such as subsidised taxi vouchers and/or aids and equipment schemes
  • Dentures, dentistry and dental surgery
  • Prescription glasses or contact lenses
  • Prostheses (e.g., artificial limb)
  • Spectacles
  • Hearing aids available under the Hearing Services Program. Contact the Hearing Service Program (HSP) for guidance on hearing aid replacement and delegate approval for non-standard hearing aids. Exception if care recipient is not a pension concession card holder as Home Care Package may cover like for like of typical hearing aid covered by HSP in this case only.
  • Continence aids if a participant in the CAPS program
  • Diagnostic imaging
  • Natural therapies, including:
  • Alexander technique
  • Aromatherapy
  • Bowen therapy
  • Buteyko
  • Feldenkrais
  • Homeopathy
  • Iridology
  • Kinesiology
  • Naturopathy
  • Pilates (except sessions supervised by an exercise physiologist or physiotherapist)
  • Reflexology
  • Rolfing
  • Shiatsu
  • Tai chi (except sessions supervised by a Chinese Medicine Practitioner, exercise physiologist or physiotherapist)
  • Western herbalism
  • Yoga (except sessions supervised by an exercise physiologist or physiotherapist)
  • Payment for informal care – a Carer’s Payments is available to fund the support of family and friends
  • Section 16.1 of the Home Care Packages Program Manual specifies more information about what ageing related programs can and cannot be accessed while receiving a Home Care Package
  • Co-payments or gap fees, including for services covered by private health insurance
  • Medications, vitamins and supplements (as well as items not covered by the PBS such as off-indication prescriptions, medicines not endorsed for listing by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) or medicines where the manufacturer has chosen not to list the product on the PBS
  • Consultation/tests/surgery with medical practitioner (GPs and specialists)
  • The only exception to this is a private appointment (i.e. not covered by MBS) with a GP to meet evidence requirements for the dementia and cognition supplement and oxygen and enteral feeding supplements
  • Hospital costs; Ambulance cover
  • Private health insurance premiums
  • Debit cards (unless the provider has rigorous systems in place to vet every payment and keep on file all receipts in accordance with the Records Principles 2014. Debit cards may pose issues for GST credits. Consult with the ATO for more information).
  • Cash payments or gift vouchers/cards, including online vouchers and coupons
  • Transfer of subsidy into care recipient or their family’s personal/business bank account without rigorous acquittal by provider of funds against receipts matched to the Home Care Agreement, care plan and individualised budget in accordance with the Records Principles 2014.

Employing family and friends:

  • Payment to families and friends for care services are typically a program exclusion. Family and friends may instead access the Carer’s Payment – https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/carer-payment
  • Using subsidy to pay for family carers raises serious probity issues under the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 under which the aged care special appropriation sits – generally this is an exclusion unless it is a thin market (i.e. rural and remote Australia; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and CALD populations) and the family member is especially qualified, does not live with the care recipient and the provider and family member (in their capacity as a personal care worker or health professional) have agreed a robust probity plan with the provider. It is a strict exclusion if the family member is already receiving a Carer’s payment.

Meal Services:

  • In relation to meal services and whether food can be included in a Home Care Package:
    • Preparation and delivery of meals can be included
    • The raw food component of those meals cannot be included, except in the case of enteral feeding.
  • The Department has not mandated a standard split/ratio for the raw food component. This is a business decision for the company providing the meal services to calculate how much the raw food component is. Home care providers should discuss with the care recipient the amount of the raw food contribution, as well as how and who it is paid to, as part of the negotiation with the meals provider and the care recipient.

We understand that sometimes there are very exceptional circumstances that warrant special consideration so it’s best to speak to us to confirm. If you want to know about a specific service, feel free to give us a call on 1300 307 344.

How does it work with Better Living Homecare?

Step One

Get Started with Us.

Call 1300 307 344 and speak with one of our Care Experts. We want to get to know you, your previous experiences and what you need, to ensure we can cater your services specifically for you.

Step Two

Your dedicated Care Manager sets up everything.

After listening to your unique situation and the types of services you require at home to suit your care needs, your Care Manager will set-up the local care and support services you need. We will ensure that you are confident that all your needs will be met and you’re happy with the people delivering your services.

Step Three

As your needs change, so can your services.

Remember we are only a phone call away to help. If your needs change, let us know and we will change your services to match your changing needs. We are always there to support you, regardless of your situation.

Want to get started?

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What's life like with Better Living Homecare?

"I have been happy with Better Living as they are generally easily available and allow me to manage my package when possible. And are able to help arrange care when necessary. I have always found my care manager to be friendly, helpful, and caring."
FrancesClient (VIC)
Frances
"Better Living Homecare has been fantastic at guiding us through the process and getting the most care service possible from dad’s package. They took time to understand our situation and offer us different solutions to ensure dad is always well cared for. Their staff members are very personable. I highly recommend them."
PeterSon of Client (NSW)
Peter
"I switched to Better Living Homecare and it’s been such a different experience to what I had with my previous Provider. I now pay less in fees and receive more care! My carer Sue is a godsend. My only regret is that I didn’t switch sooner."
KateClient (VIC)
Kate
"I used to think that higher fees equaled better care. I was wrong! We have felt listened to and supported by Better Living Homecare. They have been a wonderful help to our family, but most importantly, to mum."
DorothyDaughter of Client (VIC)
Dorothy
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"I have been happy with Better Living as they are generally easily available and allow me to manage my package when possible. And are able to help arrange care when necessary. I have always found my care manager to be friendly, helpful, and caring."
FrancesClient (VIC)
Frances
"Better Living Homecare has been fantastic at guiding us through the process and getting the most care service possible from dad’s package. They took time to understand our situation and offer us different solutions to ensure dad is always well cared for. Their staff members are very personable. I highly recommend them."
PeterSon of Client (NSW)
Peter
"I switched to Better Living Homecare and it’s been such a different experience to what I had with my previous Provider. I now pay less in fees and receive more care! My carer Sue is a godsend. My only regret is that I didn’t switch sooner."
KateClient (VIC)
Kate
"I used to think that higher fees equaled better care. I was wrong! We have felt listened to and supported by Better Living Homecare. They have been a wonderful help to our family, but most importantly, to mum."
DorothyDaughter of Client (VIC)
Dorothy
Previous
Next

Want to switch Providers? With us it's easy!

We make it seamless for clients to switch to Better Living Homecare. We take over the process for you and coordinate with your previous provider to ensure continuity of care. If you’re interested in keeping your care workers we will do our best to make that happen.

Want to learn how to make the switch?

Call Our Friendly Team

Still researching? Here's the perfect guide for you.

In this free e-book you’ll discover some of the ways to better maximise the value of your Home Care Package. Whether you have a package and are thinking of switching providers, have a new Home Care Package, are waiting or are thinking of applying, this guide will help you on your journey.

Better Living Home Care