The old phrase “home is where the heart is” rings true for most of us, but particularly for older Australians who have experienced a life of memories in their family home.

More than 75 per cent of Australians over 80 years of age wish to stay in their own homes as they age and 83 per cent view home ownership as vital to maintaining independence and financial freedom as they age. These results were from a report conducted by the Productivity Commission, Housing Decisions of Older Australians, and released in December 2015.

The report analysed a Productivity Commission survey of 1,500 senior Australians aged 60 years and older, as well as data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) from the past decade, creating a strong analysis of how older Aussies really think. The survey was representative of our nation’s population in terms of age, gender, location, and socio-economic background.

It has become clear that as seniors become older, they often need support to remain independent and healthy at home. It can be difficult to do this when we are managing our own lives and balancing the demands of work and family. One solution is to offer aged care at home, allowing seniors to remain in the family home as long as possible but offering peace of mind by providing in-home private care or Home Care Packages.

The report found that in-home assistance is a cost-effective option and recommended that the government make several policy changes outlined to help older home owners remain in their homes more easily.

The Australian Government recognises that many older Australians want to stay in their own homes as long as they can. By 2050, over 3.5 million Australians will access aged care each year with around 80 per cent of the services delivered in the community.

The Government has committed $955.4 million over the next five years to help people stay at home through:

·        streamlined access to entry-level care services through the Commonwealth Home Support Programme

·        more Home Care Packages

·        greater choice and flexibility through Consumer Directed Care across all new Home Care Packages and

·        fairer means-testing arrangements for Home Care Packages.

For the last decade, Oxley Home Care’s staff have been providing Private Care, Home Care, Nursing and Allied Health  which enable people to live in their own home throughout the Sydney Metropolitan area.

Oxley Home Care is an Approved Provider of Home Care Packages funded by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing and holds an allocation of Home Care Packages. These packages are designed to provide assistance to the elderly to remain living at home.

Oxley Home Care’s mission is to empower people; regardless if they are frail or aged, by providing quality services specifically tailored to meet their individual needs.

Our care philosophy focuses on Consumer Directed Care (CDC), a philosophy designed to empower you to make informed decisions about the type of care and support services you believe best meet your loved one’s needs. To find out further information, call Oxley Home Care on 1300 993 591.

To gain access to a Home Care Package, the Government requires that you undergo a comprehensive assessment by your local Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT). To arrange the assessment contact My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 or visit the My Aged Care website.