Adjusting to Consumer Directed Care: the experience of Brotherhood of St Laurence community aged care service users

Australia’s approach to providing care for older adults living at home has recently undergone radical change, under the banner of Consumer Directed Care. Aged care clients now have individual choice and control of their government-subsidised Home Care Packages. An action research study was undertaken to track the challenges of introducing the new model of community aged care, as developed at the Brotherhood of St Laurence. This report focuses on the experiences of older adults and their carers who receive BSL assistance to manage their Home Care Package subsidy. It found that many capable consumers appreciated being able to choose their services and activities but suggested that others will need to have adequate, ongoing support to exercise meaningful choice and control