The Essential Guide to Dementia Supplement Home Care Packages 

Some Home Care Packages include supplements for those with dementia and cognitive impairment. Dementia supplement Home Care Packages are designed to provide specialised care and support to patients suffering from this condition. The goal is to help those individuals by reducing the cost of treatment and improving the quality of their lives.

This article covers the most important aspects of the dementia supplement for Home Care Packages and how it works. 

What Are Home Care Package Supplements?

Home Care Packages (HCP) aren't just for elderly citizens who need help completing everyday tasks. They can also benefit individuals with cognitive impairment, such as dementia, who require specialised care and medication. That's why eligibility requirements for aged care HCP differ from those for cognitive impairment HCP.

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The HCP dementia supplement wasn't only introduced to alleviate the care recipients' lives, but also to help with the costs associated with the treatment.

Aside from dementia, the Australian government allocates funding to Home Care Packages for other supplements. These are the supplements you might be eligible for:

• Dementia and cognition supplement
• Enteral feeding supplement
• Oxygen supplement
• Top-up supplement
• Veterans' supplement
• Viability supplement
• Hardship supplement

More specifically, the funding for this supplement is allocated to an approved provider of Home Care Packages. The Home Care Package dementia supplement is then included in the individual budget of eligible care recipients.

Dementia and Cognition Supplement

The dementia supplement is supposed to help a home care provider with the expense of aiding care recipients with moderate to severe cognitive impairment. Dementia and cognition supplements usually include the following:

1. Omega-3 fatty acids
2. Vitamin B
3. Vitamin D
4. Antioxidants

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These supplements are made to support brain health and cognitive function of patients with dementia.

Home Care Package Funding for Dementia and Cognition Supplements

Aside from regular care and medical assistance, Home Care Packages include funding for dementia and cognition supplements. Note that you must be eligible for this aged care funding instrument. Patients with cognitive impairment and moderate to severe dementia are eligible, while those with mild dementia won't be able to receive funding for this supplement.

A dementia diagnosis alone isn't sufficient as proof of eligibility. The care recipient must also undergo a medical assessment, which must be conducted by an authorised person, such as a:

• Medical practitioner
• Registered nurse
• Clinical nurse consultant
• Clinical psychologist
• Nurse practitioner

If a care recipient qualifies for this supplement, the additional funding they would receive is based on the Home Care Package level they are assigned to. According to the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care, the Home Care Package can provide a dementia patient with additional funding of 11.5%.

There are three screening tools that can be used for the assessment:

1. The Psychogeriatric Assessment Scale (PAS)
2. The Rowland Universal Dementia Assessment Scale (RUDAS)
3. The Kimberly Indigenous Cognitive Assessment (KICA-cog)

Select the Right Dementia Supplement Home Care Package Provider

If your loved one has a moderate to severe cognitive impairment, such as dementia, they can receive lower fees for supplements provided by their Home Care Package. Haisey Home Care offers the best care services that allow patients to live as independently and comfortably as possible. Book a free in-home consultation or contact us for more information on our Home Care Packages and the supplements you may be eligible for.