Your guide to self-managed home care
When researching home care, you may have come across the option of self-managing your in-home care under Support at Home. So, what does self-managing your home care actually involve and how much support do you receive?
We spoke to Five Good Friends Self-Managed Team Leader, Dominique Domingues, to break down the key differences and benefits of self-management, so you can decide if it’s the right choice for you.
What is self-managed home care?
Self managed home care means you, or your family, take an active role in coordinating your own care under support at home. You decide who provides your care, when services occur, and how your budget is used.
With a self-managed approach, you can:
- Choose Helpers and services that best meet your needs.
- Manage your schedule and adjust services as your circumstances change
- Track your spending and view your budget in real time
- Communicate directly with your care team through our app
“Using our intuitive tools including our easy-to-use app, you can request services, match with care workers (Helpers), and schedule visits. You’ll receive a shortlist of suitable Helpers based on your preferences, and from there, you can start conversations and set up visits. You have full choice and control over rostering and scheduling”, outlines Dominique.
What’s the difference between self-managed and full service home care?
The key difference between full service and self-managed home care is your level of involvement.
“With a self-managed membership, you decide how your funding is spent, you have a shared authority in purchasing decisions, and you play a more active role in selecting and coordinating your care,” explains Dominique.
What support is available for self-managed Members at Five Good Friends?
Expert guidance when you need it
You may coordinate your care, but you’re never unsupported. Our customer service team and care navigators are here to help with advice, reviews, and plan updates whenever your needs change.
“Care navigators can assist with complex or clinical queries, annual reviews, and updating your help plan when your care needs change,” adds Dominique.
Intuitive tools and smart technology
Self-managed Members also benefit from our advanced software and care monitoring to ensure their safety and well-being.
- App-based management: Review Helpers, book services, and track your spending anytime.
- Real-time care monitoring: Helpers leave digital notes after each visit, allowing our software to detect potential risks (like falls or health changes).
- Regular reviews: Members receive annual reviews and well-being check-ins, especially if living alone or with limited family support.
“Each time a Helper completes a service; they leave a check-out note with details on how the visit went and activities completed during the visit. Our software reviews this data and flags any potential risks, such as a fall or a noticeable decline in well-being,” Dominique explains.
“This allows us to proactively check in with Members and ensure their care needs are being met. We also have regular Member annual reviews and additional well-being checks for Members who live alone and have limited, or no, family support and minimal services in place. Our system prompts a care navigator to reach out every 60 days to check in and offer assistance. This ensures that even in a self-managed model, the Five Good Friends care team has oversight”.
Supporting a loved one from afar
It’s also worth noting that you can self-manage a loved one’s package, even if you live interstate or abroad.
“We have family of Members living interstate or overseas who successfully self-manage their parents’ packages in Australia,” Dominique shares. “They communicate with Helpers via text, use our shared notebook, and coordinate everything online. It works really well!”
This flexibility makes it easier for families to stay connected and confident in their loved one’s care, no matter where they live.
Take control of your care today - with a little help from your friends.
If you prefer a hands-on approach, self-managed home care offers the freedom to coordinate your services, manage your budget, and adjust supports as your needs evolve.
Our team, tools, and proactive technology ensure you always have help when you need it, without losing the independence you value most.
“Self-managed care doesn’t mean doing it alone,” Dominique concludes. “It means being supported by technology, training, and a trusted team who always have your back.”
Frequently asked questions
About the expert
With deep experience in home care coordination and aged care support, Dominique helps Members confidently manage their own care ensuring they receive flexible, high-quality, and person-centred care.
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