When working with clients who’ve transitioned from a Home Care Package (HCP), a key consideration is how to best use remaining unspent funds.
If both equipment (assistive technology) and home modifications are needed?
The Key Tip: Prioritise Home Modifications First
Why?
Something that’s important to consider is the lifetime cap on home modifications…
…but this doesn’t exist with Assistive Technology.
Under Support at Home’s Assistive Technology and Home Modifications (AT-HM) Scheme Guidelines, funding for high tier home modifications will be capped at $15,000 per lifetime.
(but when it comes to assistive technology, there is no limit to the number of times an AT funding tier can be accessed if there is an assessed need)
Client Examples
Scenario A: A client has a need for both equipment and home modifications, so they use their unspent funds to purchase the equipment they need. Following a Support Plan Review, they’ll need to use their AT-HM funding to pay for their home modifications. This then comes out of their lifetime cap, limiting their ability to receive home modifications in the future.
Scenario B: The same client uses their unspent funds to purchase the home modifications they need. Following a Support Plan Review, they use their AT-HM funding to pay for their equipment. Their $15,000 lifetime cap remains untouched. And, if their needs change and they need for equipment, they can still apply for another AT funding tier.
Summary – What This Means in Practice
For Therapists: Our key recommendation is that we should always prioritise our recommendations based on clients’ clinical needs. However, it’s helpful to keep this insight in mind when discussing options with clients and Care Partners.
For Care Partners: Understanding this strategy, but without compromising clinical priorities, can help ensure clients can maximize their total funding potential and stay at home longer.
For Clients: It’s important to know that AT-HM funding comes with a lifetime cap for home modifications. Opting for the changes to your home that have the best ‘bang for buck’ to support your current needs can help you preserve funds for future modifications (and help you maintain independence in your own home for longer.