IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT THE MONEY HONEY
The new Aged Care system in Australia is well and truly here, welcome to the new age of more consumer choice or (consumer directed care) than ever before when it comes Home Support Services.
It's been interesting as a provider to have numerous phone calls & communication with people searching for a provider.
WHAT'S THE NUMBER 1 QUESTION THOSE PEOPLE ASK?
How many hours can I get for my package? AND what is the COST?
Of course you want to know exactly what it will cost, and it seems - many people are focused on finding the cheapest provider so they get more hours of service. This is the great part about consumer choice.
However - in your quest to find, negotiate, haggle with providers for the lowest price - what might you be missing ?
You may want to stop for a minute - and become clear around what it is that is most important to you or your loved one, and think carefully about value for money, rather than lowest cost.
The old adage - 'you get what you pay for' will also apply to your Home Care services.
Unless you have a clear idea of what it is that is important to you - you may find low cost = low service / inconsistent staff / difficulty contacting your provider - or all of the above.
If the single most important thing for you is the number of hours of support you can have a week - then this may be the best option for you.
However, if quality of service, responsiveness of your provider, consistency of staff are also important - then paying a bit more for your services may be better value for money for you.
Having lived through the experience of having a parent utilizing home care services, I can tell you that a higher number of hours isn't always the answer.
What worked?
- Consistent staff that my Mum was comfortable with,
- who provided services at a time that suited her, and
- always acted in a professional manner.
Of course if you are not happy with your provider - you can always change. However - keep in mind that changing a provider can be time consuming and will cost - as there are exit fees that apply.
It is much better 'value' to choose the right provider the first time round.