By ANDY WILSON & PAM ZIERK-MAHONEY

'You may need to source your own home care services when required' was the strong message given by Lyn Newnham when addressing A Third Age Club event earlier this year.

Ms Newnham is a home care package case manager and gave some sound advice to seniors when she spoke at the forum 'Let's talk about tomorrow'.

Around 120 people attended the forum - a packed house for the group.

Ms Newnham has worked in the aged care sector for 15 years locally, previously through Strathbogie Shire Council in Euroa and then in assessment through Nexus Primary Health and since then at Violet Town Bush Nursing (Honeysuckle Regional Health) for the past eight years as case manager for those needing assistance in their home.

"I have seen a lot of changes over those years," Ms Newnham said.

"And I would say first that if you have friends currently on a home care package, and you are looking to get the same assistance yourself, then don't expect to get what they've got, because it's changed."

Ms Newnham said the new Program (Support at Home - SaH) is user-pays, so there was now a fee-for-service for everyone coming into the system.

"The changes also mean that the department (Federal Government) has reduced the home care package fees that organisations receive; they've gone down from 25-to-30 per cent to 10 per cent, which is a lot," she said.

"(The government) knows that these reductions put the pressure on organisations; what it means is that service fees will go up.

"And so it's just a reminder that the percentage that you pay will be from a higher rate.

"Currently the hourly fee charged by different organisations around the area for domestic assistance is between $69 to $95 an hour.

"For home and garden maintenance, it's somewhere between $60 and $90 an hour.

"So, after November, you can expect these fees to go up - somewhere between $95 to $120 an hour for domestic help.

"Obviously if your income is higher you'd be paying a higher percentage(up to) $80 to $90 an hour - it will depend entirely on your income and assets test and what percentage of service Centrelink decide each person must pay.

"So, I guess what we all need to know is that if your income is higher, there's times when it would be better for you just to source your services privately, because you would be paying more on the system."

With the Commonwealth funded service currently the client fee that local providers charge is between $7 and $13 an hour for personal care and domestic services.

The home and garden maintenance is between $26 to $33 an hour.

The most important services are personal shower assistance and shopping assistance so these will be provided. Where Domestic assistance and Gardening can be difficult to get.

"Sometimes you're limited to a one-off home and garden maintenance service or you're on a very long list to wait for domestic assistance," Ms Newnham said.

"It's not always easy to understand the process to get services.

"So, my advice is to keep asking questions, but be aware that if you do have money, you will pay a higher rate."