Once you have found a service provider to offer you care, they must offer you a Flexible Care Agreement.
Your Flexible Care Agreement includes:
- Your care plan - outlines your care needs and how these needs will be met.
- The care costs - how much your care will cost, and how much you may be asked to pay.
- Your rights - you and your provider are entering into a flexible agreement as equal partners.
The care plan
Developed with your care team, your care plan sets out:
- your goal(s)
- your care needs
- the services you have agreed to receive to meet your goals and needs.
Your goals
Personal goals are an important part of your care plan. They state what you would like to achieve through your short-term restorative care, and can help guide your selection of care and services.
When deciding your goals, ask yourself the following questions:
- What support do I need to stay independent?
- What is important to me?
- What do I enjoy doing the most?
- What makes my life enjoyable and meaningful?
- What type of things might help improve my day-to-day life?
- Where and when do I want that support?
You and your service provider can review your care plan as needed. It can also change if you and your support team need to revise your plan goals.
Your care needs
This section details your specific needs that short-term restorative care aims to help with. Your provider will already have some information about your care needs from your assessment. But you will both review these care needs, discuss your preferences, and make changes as necessary.
Your services
Your care plan will detail the care and services that will be provided to meet your goals. It includes:
- who will provide the services
- where the services will be delivered (at home, in the community, in an aged care home, or a mix of these)
- when they will be delivered - including start and finish dates
- what will be in place when your short-term restorative care ends.
You and your service provider can review your care plan as needed during your short-term restorative care, particularly if your circumstances change.
Care costs
Your agreement will also include information on how much your care will cost, and how much you may be asked to pay.
Your rights
You have a right to receive high quality care and services and to always be treated with respect and dignity. These rights and more are protected by the Charter of Aged Care Rights.
You have the right to safe and high quality care and services. All Australian Government funded aged care providers are monitored and have to meet quality standards. Read more about the Aged Care Quality Standards.
You will be given a copy of the Charter and relevant standards along with your agreement.
Help making your Flexible Care Agreement
You can have another person such as a family member, friend, or carer with you when you develop your care plan and Flexible Care Agreement.
You can ask for an advocate to represent you or help you develop your Flexible Care Agreement with your provider.
An advocate can help by:
- participating in the discussion about your Flexible Care Agreement and care plan
- talking about any concerns you may have.
Read more about how you can access help on our representatives page.
You can also read more about the National Aged Care Advocacy Program.
Signing your Flexible Care Agreement
Once you understand and are satisfied, you can sign your Flexible Care Agreement.
What if I can’t sign the agreement?
If you cannot sign the agreement because of physical or medical problems, another person representing you may do so on your behalf.
Can I choose not to sign the agreement?
Yes, you can choose not to sign. Your provider still needs to talk with you about the care and services you need.
They will record the reasons for you not having signed the agreement and why you are getting the types of services you have agreed on. If you decide to receive short-term restorative care services without either signing or verbally accepting an agreement, the conditions and expectations outlined in the agreement still apply.