Government Rebates and Subsidies for Care Alert Systems

Buying and maintaining a personal alarm can be difficult, especially for those with limited resources. Luckily, there are a number of government schemes available that mean the cost of an alarm can be reduced or even result in free personal alarms for the elderly in Australia.

Personal alarms are vital pieces of equipment for people who are elderly or have some significant disability since they enable them to call for help in an emergency. Consequently, they are often funded by the government, so they are more accessible and affordable for those who need them.

The Different Free Government Grants and Subsidies for Care Systems in Australia

To obtain a government-funded personal alarm in Australia, there are a number of schemes available:

• Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) is administered by My Aged Care and aims to assist Australian seniors to live safely and independently in their own homes by providing some basic support services. The scheme helps the elderly accomplish daily tasks and provides funding for transport, home adaptations and social care as well as a My Aged Care personal alarm.This is the most accessible government scheme to pay for an RAA personal alarm system and any other centrally or family-monitored system. It is available for those who are aged at least 65 (50 for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people or 60 if from a low-income background) and don’t already have a personal alarm. Funding depends on circumstances and a personal contribution may be necessary so there are some free personal alarms for the elderly in Australia but this should be minimal.
• Home Care Package (HCP) is also administered by My Aged Care and is generally aimed at those requiring more support than for CHSP. Funding is over four tiers, from basic care through low level and intermediate to high level care that provides increased support. Funding depends on an assessment and eligibility is mainly based on age (over 65 or over 50 for First Nation people who require co-ordinated services) and also applies to younger people who have dementia, a disability or other special needs not met by other services.
• National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) that supports those with significant and permanent disabilities so they can take control of their lives, participate in community life and achieve their goals. The scheme provides tailored support to meet unique needs for those who are under 65 years old, are Australian citizens, permanent residents or protected special category visa holders, live in an NDIS area and meet early intervention and disability requirements.
• Various state schemes, such as Personal Alert SA that provide a government-funded personal alarm in South Australia, Personal Alert Victoria and others that offer a government-funded personal alarm in WA and elsewhere. These require applicants to live in the state and meet other criteria, such as having a significant medical condition that puts the person at risk and will generally provide a subsidy towards the cost of purchase and ongoing monitoring or a free device and service for care alert South Australia and other states.

Help with Finding the Best Alarm and Support Package

The availability of funding means very few people should have to pay the full price for a personal alarm. Subsidies are available, whether for systems that are centrally monitored on a 24/7 basis or if alerts go through to family members.

If you are not sure which funding option is best for you, get in touch and we will help you make the right choice. We can also advise on the best alarm for a particular situation.