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Consumer Directed Care (CDC)
Consumer (or self) directed care allows people to have greater control over their own lives by allowing them, to the extent that they are capable and wish so to do, to make choices about the types of care services they access and the delivery of those services, including who will deliver the services and when.
There are three levels of CDC which align with the existing packaged care programs:
- CDC Low Care is similar to a Community Aged Care Package (CACP) and provides care services to people with low level, complex care needs. It may provide services such as personal care, social support, transport to appointments, home help, meal preparation and gardening.
CDC High Care is similar to an Extended Aged Care at Home (EACH) package and provides care services to people who have high level, complex care needs. It may provide services such as nursing, domestic assistance, in-home respite, personal care, transport to appointments, and social support.
CDC High Care Dementia is similar to an Extended Aged Care at Home Dementia (EACHD) package and will provide care services to people living in the community who have high level, complex care needs and also experience behaviours and symptoms associated with dementia that affect their ability to live independently. A representative may be required to assist these care recipients with their CDC when necessary.
How can CDC Help Me?
Your Approved Provider will work with you to jointly develop and manage your care package, including developing your care budget, and discussing options available for meeting you care needs.Who is eligible?
The target group for CDC packages are care recipients who are frail, older people 70 years of age or over, or 50 years of age or older for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.To be eligible to receive a CDC package, you must be assessed by an Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT or ACAS in Victoria) as eligible for either a:
- Community Aged Care Package (CACP);
- Extended Aged Care at Home (EACH) package; or
- Extended Aged Care at Home Dementia (EACHD) package.
Read More: About Packaged Care
Read More: About being Assessed for Community Care
Next Step: Aged Care Assessment Team Finder
How much does it cost?
Care Recipient Contributions
In most cases, you will be charged a fee toward the cost of your package. You should agree on the fee to be charged for your care services with your service provider. If you are on the basic pension, you cannot be asked to pay more than 17.5% of that pension. If you have higher income, you may be asked to pay more than that (but not more than 50% of that higher income). If you cannot pay the fee, you will not be denied a service that you need. The amount charged forms part of an agreement between you and the service provider.Administration and Contingencies
Care recipients will pay the Approved Provider an amount of their budget to cover the cost of administration, which will include a small amount to cover contingencies. The amount should be transparent and agreed between the Approved Provider and the care recipient, dependent on the level of administration provided. The remainder of the allocated budget is available to the care recipient to direct to services of their choice.Current subsidy rates for Consumer Directed Care are available at the Department of Health & Ageing website
Rights and Responsibilities
Community Care service providers are expected to comply with obligations under laws such as the Aged Care Act 1997. Under these laws you have the right to be treated respectfully and be informed and consulted about your care.Read more: About rights & responsibilities
Read more: The Aged Care Act 1997
Standards of Care
The Australian Government sets standards to ensure you receive quality care. For example, community care standards make sure that you receive a service that meets your individual needs and you have access to complaints procedures if you need them.Read more: About standards of care
Quality Reporting
Approved Providers delivering care required to take part in Quality Reporting. It checks that community care providers have systems and processes in place to meet the care standards that are put in place by government legislation to ensure quality care is delivered.Read more: About Quality Reporting
Do you have a complaint?
If you have any concerns about the care being provided, it’s often best to raise your concerns, in the first instance, with the Approved Provider. However, if you’re unable to resolve the issue or prefer not to complain directly to the service provider, the Aged Care Complaints Investigation Scheme is a free service that seeks to resolve your complaints about your health, safety and/or welfare – and it’s available to your relatives, guardians or representatives as well.Read more: About how to make a complaint