A Home Care Package is a government-funded program designed to support you to live at home independently. Created for people with complex care needs, it enables you to access an extensive range of affordable home care services.

To apply for a Home Care Package, visit My Aged Care and fill in an online form, or you can call them on 1800 200 422.

An assessor will visit your home to clarify your needs, and if eligible, you'll be added to a wait list.

Once you've been assigned a Home Care Package, your funds will be made available through a service provider of your choice. Your service provider will work with you to select, plan out and schedule a range of services to suit your needs and lifestyle.

Find out more about Home Care Packages including how to apply, funding levels and service types here.

Privately funded home care means you pay for your home care services out of your own pocket. Whilst there's no subsidy - there are lots of other perks.

Privately funding all or some of your home care services could be the right choice for you if:

• You've had an unexpected hospital visit and require assistance in maintaining your independence once you are discharged home
• You've had a fall and require some assistance at home
• You need some short-term care whilst your usual caregiver takes a break or goes on holiday
• Your income assessment with Department of Human Services indicates you'll need to make extensive contributions to your Home Care Package
• You don't meet the eligibility requirements for Government funding
• You are on the wait list for a Home Care Package but require assistance at home now
• Your Home Care Package doesn't cover the amount or quantity of home care services you require

The perks of private home care include:

Reduced wait times: At Benetas we don't let the red tape slow us down. In fact if you choose to privately fund your home care services, we're often able to start providing home care within 3-5 business days.

No assessment: Unlike Government-funded home care, you will not be obliged to go through an assessment with My Aged Care. Instead, you just need to meet with your home care provider (either face-to-face or over the phone) to discuss your goals and plan out your services.

Less paperwork: You'll have less paperwork to sign!

Short term, long term or one-off - it's your choice: If you only need temporary assistance or even one-off help, privately funding could be the best option for you.

Other options for short term care include in-home nursing and respite services.

Call us on 1300 23 63 82 to find out more or get your services set up.

Veterans' Home Care (VHC) is a Department of Veterans' Affairs program that provides a range of home care services designed to maintain the health, wellbeing and independence of eligible veterans and/or war widows and widowers.

Benetas is a Veteran's Home Care provider in the shires of Hume, Loddon, Grampians and Gippsland. If you live in one of these areas and are a Department of Veteran Affairs (DVA) client eligible for Veterans' Home Care, you are able to choose Benetas as your preferred provider.

To apply for VHC, ring your VHC Assessment Agency on 1300 550 450. Other people can also refer you to the VHC Assessment Agency with your consent, such as family members, carers, friends, General Practitioners and hospital discharge planners.

Following the referral, you'll need to undertake an assessment by a VHC assessor. The VHC assessor will discuss your circumstances with you to identify the range of services you may need.

For more information please call our friendly customer centre team on 1300 23 63 82.