Professional care support providers can save you a lot of time and stress for a lot of money, but there’s always something behind bureaucratic red tape and to access that ‘something’ means you have to cough up more money.

This is why many people choose to manage their HCPs themselves. The feeling is like swapping out your corporate boss for self-employment, which can be quite empowering.

You’ll be able to choose who comes into your home, what they do when they do it and most importantly, how much it’ll cost you. Before we go into the five steps to manage your HCP, let’s take some time to understand more about this topic.

What is Home Care Package self-management?

The Home Care Package is one of the Australian Government’s subsidies for aged care. Usually, it’s disbursed to the agencies that provide care for aged people, but many people are opting to manage their packages themselves.

So, to answer the question that the subheading asks, HCP self-management is exactly what it sounds like. You handle everything about your aged care, from staffing to working hours to payment. The difference, however, is that the government will hold on to the funds while you make the decisions. Family members can even manage it on your behalf.

Common challenges in HCP self-management & how to overcome them

We cannot stress enough that agencies save you the stress of managing your aged care, whether you’re signed up to the HCPs or you’re funding it yourself. The things that they take off your desk include:

• the administrative load, such as paperwork and invoicing;
• hiring, as agencies usually hire reliable people trained en masse, so you’re covered;
• budgeting and budget tracking — determining how much goes where, when each payment should be made, etc.

These are the basic challenges that people managing their HCPs face. The following list of options can help you solve these issues.

• Admin load
  Use simple tools like spreadsheets, online invoice creators and word processors.
• Hiring
  Look up reviews of carers near you, ask questions from friends and neighbours and interview them properly.
• Budgeting
  Use apps and free online tracking platforms.

Other challenges can arise as a result of emergencies, like having to look for a backup carer. Whatever they are, they typically fall under the three challenges outlined in this section. Follow the tips shared to solve any problems when they arise.

Five easy steps to HCP self-management in Australia

Nobody starts managing their HCPs themselves, though. You will pass through some steps before you can start to manage the carers and the funds directly.

1. Get your funds transferred & understand your role

Call your HCP provider and ask them to allow you to manage your package yourself. This is a process that can last up to a month, so make sure you plan ahead. Before you do this, though, you must have learned of your responsibilities as the HCP manager. Once your allocated funds are exhausted, you’re on your own.

2. Map out your budget & tracking system

What do you need to spend money on? What do you think you will need to spend money on in the future? How much does each service or medication cost? Outline these things and their costs, then draw up a budget. Then, find tools that can help you manage and track this budget so you don’t overspend.

3. Find & vet your support workers

Usually, these searches start online. Visit Facebook groups or websites that provide carer support near you to find out which support worker fits your needs best. You can even post on these forums to ask for referrals.

When you get referrals, investigate them. Find out their experience, especially with people who manage their HCPs. Find out their qualifications, find out if they have insurance and the necessary police certificates. Lastly, find out their availability.

Make sure to observe body language while conducting these interviews; you should never hire the first referral you get, so you can compare quotes.

4. Book, pay & keep records

You need a booking, payment tracking and record-keeping system that won’t fail you — buy software if you have to. Go for one that can send reminders and sync them to your calendar to share with your chosen carer.

Make sure they invoice you before every payment and try to pay within seven days of receiving the invoice.

5. Review & refine your plan regularly

A key hack to budgeting in any endeavour is to regularly check your actual spending against your actual needs. You may find out that you can do without some items on the budget when you do this. Make it a date to check every three months and adjust when necessary.

Also, don’t make your support worker an outcast; they’re there to help you. This means they have to be a part of your world. Ask them for their opinion and find out from their perspective what works and what doesn’t.

The NDIS has guides and online peer networks that you can learn from as well. Also, make sure that your plan follows the Department of Health’s care management obligations’ quality standards.

Conclusion

HCP self-management gives you freedom: everything is in your control. There’s nobody to tell you why or how you can or can’t spend your money. You can do it in just five steps, which we outlined above.

You can always switch back to agency-managed HCPs if it becomes overwhelming. Don’t forget that. Nobody will judge you if you do. Always tell yourself the truth at all times about your capabilities, because your aged care depends on how you manage your HCP.