What is consumer directed care (CDC)?

What is consumer directed care (CDC)?

Consumer directed care (CDC) distinguishes care delivery by empowering consumers with more choice and flexibility. With consumer directed care, people receiving home care services have greater autonomy in shaping their care and services package, encompassing its delivery methods and providers. 

Embracing Consumer Directed Care 

CDC requires collaborative care planning between consumers and service providers, encouraging active involvement in managing received services. It provides transparency through personalised budgets, offering insights into fund allocation for informed decision-making and optimisation of resources.  

Regular reviews ensure alignment with evolving needs, ensuring adjustments or reassessments are addressed as soon as they are required. 

Tracing the Evolution of Consumer Directed Care  

Introduced as a pilot initiative by the Federal Government in 2010-11, CDC for home care packages gained momentum, becoming mandatory for all new packages since 1 August 2013, and universally implemented by 1 July 2015. This change aimed to empower recipients under the "Living Longer Living Better" reforms. Further enhancements in February 2017 decentralised funding allocation, enabling transferability of packages for seamless transitions. 

Essential Principles of CDC  

Consumer Directed Care embodies six key principles, ensuring consumer autonomy and protecting your rights. These principles, preserved in aged care legislation, promote: 

1. Choice and control 
2. Rights protection
3. Collaborative partnerships
4. Active participation
5. Wellness and reablement
6. Transparency

Unlocking the Benefits of Consumer Directed Care 

CDC amplifies consumer influence in the aged care landscape, fostering choice and flexibility. By granting ownership of care packages, individuals wield authority in selecting service providers and tailoring services to align with personal preferences. The transformative approach amplifies focus on wellness, enabling ageing in familiar environments. 

The most important things to know about CDC 

Navigating the realm of aged care, CDC presents significant advantages, including:  

More choice and flexibility – you can now choose who will provide your care and change providers if you aren’t happy with the care you are receiving 

You have control and visibility over yours, or your loved one’s care including transparency into the costs of your care 

There’s more focus on wellness and enablement to age in the home that you love 

If you’re looking into care at the moment – whether it’s for yourself or for a loved one – then knowing your different options and what you’re entitled to are the most important tools to help you get the most out of your care provider.  

You can read up on your options on My Aged Care.