Care by name, not by nature: experiences of older adults accessing a home care package

The government-funded Home Care Packages (HCP) program subsidises the cost of supports to help older adults to age-in-place. Good nutrition can support older people to live at home but is only one aspect of care eligible for HCP funding.

This qualitative exploratory study aimed to explore how the experiences of older adults, and their values related to food and nutrition, impacted their HCP spending.

From semi-structured interviews with fifteen HCP recipients (65-87 years), four main themes were developed through reflexive thematic analysis; (1) Care, By Name or By Nature; (2) We Know What We Need, Just Listen; (3) The Struggles of Prioritising and Spending; (4) Nutritional (Im)Balance. Participants experienced a lack of personcentred care in the HCP program, making it difficult for them to choose and receive services that met their needs and preferences. Their package budget was often insufficient to support their age-related care needs, causing recipients to compromise on services needed to live independently at home. Nutrition is important to HCP recipients but is often not their main priority when prioritising their limited package funding.

The HCP program does not appear to be working as intended. Changes are required to ensure that recipients are at the centre of their care and have access to resources that support them to maintain their nutritional health and live independently at home. This study offers a contemporary understanding of the HCP experience and prompts discussion about Fresh Ideas to improve recipients’ experiences and overall health.