your guide to aged care and nursing services at home · 2019-11-24 · 13 10 95...

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programmed.com.au/care

Find out how we can help you around your home.

Your guide to

Aged Care and Nursing Services at Home

Call our team today: 13 10 95

1. Programmed Care’s Private ServicesPage 7

3. Home Care Packages (HCP)Page 15

2. Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP)Page 11

6. Respite Care Page 27

8. DVA Community Nursing Program5

5. Short-Term Restorative Care (STRC)Page 25

4. Transition Care Program (TCP)Page 21

7. Veterans’ Home Care (VHC)Page 31

ContentsAbout Programmed Care 1

Your step-by-step guide to aged care services at home 3

Our aged care services at home 5

Meet some of our team 37

Why Programmed Care? 39

Notes and useful acronym list 41

Your Guide to Aged Care Services at Home1

About

Programmed CareAt Programmed Care, we start with “What matters to you?”

We understand that everyone is unique and has their own needs.

That’s why we do as much or as little as you need. Our tailored home care

plans offer you the freedom to continue living life at home on your terms.

13 10 95 [email protected] programmed.com.au/care 2

Our highly skilled and medically trained teams are here to help you.

Whether you need specialist nursing care at home or just a helping

hand, we’ll help you get ready for the day, out and about or back

on your feet.

At Programmed Care, we offer the level of support you need,

from specialist nursing to get you back to health after hospital to

regular assistance with medications and ongoing health conditions.

Our dedicated and friendly carers assist with things like personal

care, grocery shopping, preparing your favourite meals,

and even keeping your home and garden looking

great.

With over 25 years of experience as an

approved provider of government

funded home care programs, let our

team take the stress out of finding

the right care for you.

We want to help you focus on the things that matter to you.

Let us take care of the rest.


Your step-by-step guide to Aged Care Services at Home

A comprehensive tool to help you navigate and access aged care

services at home.

At Programmed Care, we want you to feel comfortable, safe and

supported at home. With our help, you can stay focused on the things

that matter to you, while we step in and take care of the rest.

With over 25 years of experience, we know that understanding

your options and getting started with support services can seem

daunting at first.

That’s why we’ve created this simple guide to make it easier for

you and support you through the process.


dementia care, as well as assistance with

medications. We can also help with those

things that make continuing to live at home

just that bit easier, such as assistance with

domestic and personal care, help getting

out and about, shopping, home cooked

meal preparation and care for your garden

and four-legged friends.

This guide will help you to understand the

services available and explain how to get

started with an assessment of your needs

and eligibility, so that you can access the

support you need to continue living at home

and get back to the things and people that

matter to you.

In this guide, we will help you understand:

• The types of home care services available

and how to access them

• How the assessment and eligibility

process works and how to prepare

• The availability of government funding

and costs to you

• How to get started with Programmed

Care as your chosen service provider

• The wide range of home care services

Programmed Care can offer

Following an assessment by an Aged

Care Assessment Team assessor (known

as ACAT in most states and ACAS in Victoria)

to confirm that you meet the government’s

eligibility criteria, you will be able to access

a program from within our wide range of

services. Alternatively, if you are a Veteran,

you may be referred by your GP or treating

doctor while in hospital.

Depending on your needs, services can

include specialist nursing and allied health

services including diabetes care, podiatry,

physiotherapy, pain management and

If you have any questions please

give us a call – we’re here for you.

Contact us on

Phone: 13 10 95

Email: [email protected]

Disclaimer – This guide is intended to give general advice only. Please speak to your medical, legal and financial professionals for advice that is specific to your situation.


Our aged care services at home Whether you need short-term

assistance or ongoing support,

we have you covered with both private

and government subsidised aged

care services at home.

Our short-term services offer you extra

help at home after an operation or fall.

Ongoing support can include assistance

with your day-to-day activities, like

preparing meals or looking after pets,

in addition to nursing care and

personal assistance.

We understand the importance of your

health and wellbeing to you and your

family. That’s why no matter your needs,

we’re here to help you get back on your

feet and do more of what matters to you.

At Programmed Care, we don’t believe

in a ‘one-size-fits-all’ policy. We know

that everyone is different, and work

closely with you to tailor our services

to meet your needs.

We also understand that finding your

way around the home care system can

be daunting. That’s why we’ve provided

the handy program summary on the

following page, so that you can see at

a glance what you may be eligible for,

how the assessment process works,

what the costs may be and how to get

started with your services.

To help you fully understand what each

home care program includes, this guide

will provide more information on the

following programs:

1. Programmed Care’s Private ServicesWe offer private services if you are not

eligible for government-subsidised home

care support, are on the waiting list or just

want to top up your funded services with

extra help. You won’t serve waiting periods

and you can organise a quote for services

directly with our team. With our private

services, you also have greater choice

over the length and level of your care.

2. Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP)If you need just a bit of extra help around

the house, the Commonwealth Home

Support Program (CHSP) may be the

right option for you. CHSP is known as an

‘entry-level’ service and many home care

recipients start with this program before

moving to an ongoing Home Care Package.

5 Your Guide to Aged Care Services at Home


3. Home Care Packages (HCP)Receive the amount and type of care you

need with a Home Care Package (HCP).

With a greater level of support and a wide

variety of services, care is on your terms in

your own home. An HCP will stay with you

over the long term and is designed to help

you continue living at home and avoid the

need to move into residential aged care.

4. Transition Care Program (TCP)A Transition Care Program (TCP) helps

you get back on your feet after a hospital

stay following an illness or accident.

It is a short-term program designed to

help you return to and continue living in

your own home, avoiding both the risk of

premature admission to residential aged

care or an unnecessarily long hospital stay.

5. Short-Term Restorative Care (STRC)Short-Term Restorative Care (STRC)

provides a range of intensive services over

an eight-week period, to help you maintain

your health and independence at home and

avoid either hospitalisation or the need to

move to a nursing home or long-term care.

6. Respite Care Respite Care provides your carer with a

break from their caring responsibilities.

It gives them the opportunity to take some

time off, so they can continue to care for you

at home. Options can include either in home

care or a short stay in an aged care home.

7. Veterans’ Home Care (VHC)You may be eligible for assistance

through the Veterans’ Home Care

program if you hold a Gold or White card

from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

This service is similar to the Commonwealth

Home Support Program listed above,

and is designed to give you an extra

hand at home.

8. DVA Community Nursing ProgramIf you hold a Gold or White card from the

Department of Veterans’ Affairs, you may

be eligible for nursing, health care and

personal care services at home through

the DVA Community Nursing program.

This is a higher level of support than the

Veterans’ Home Care program.


1. Programmed Care’s Private Services

Programmed Care’s private services can be booked

immediately without serving waiting times or

completing eligibility assessments. With private

services, you have full control of the amount, type

and timing of the services you wish to purchase,

with no requirement to join a waiting list for a

government subsidised service.

Booking Programmed Care’s private services is

a great way to supplement funded care, or to get

the care you need while you wait for a subsidised

package. Our services allow you to bypass the

formalities and allow you to get the care you need

right now.

With specific regular assistance, you can continue

to stay active while living at home and maintain

connection with your loved ones through our wide

range of service options. Our private services are

always here when you need them.

To stay living at home, I need…

Immediate access to self-funded services


ServicesHere are some examples of our extensive range of fully customisable private services.

Personal care and grooming

Assistance with taking care of yourself and looking good, including bathing, showering, toileting, dressing and undressing, hair and make-up.

Enjoying home cooked meals

Assistance with preparing and storing meals, including your favourite foods, special diets for health, religious, cultural or other reasons; assistance with eating and feeding where needed.

Help around the home

Keep your home and garden looking good. We can take care of things like cleaning, laundry, ironing, bed making, light gardening and basic repairs such as changing light-globes and tap washers. We can even help with spring cleaning.

Continence management

Assistance in using continence aids and appliances such as disposable pads and absorbent aids, commode chairs, bedpans and urinals, catheter and urinary drainage appliances.

Keeping you mobile

Assistance with crutches, quadruped walkers, walking frames, walking sticks, mechanical devices for lifting, bed rails, slide sheets, sheepskins, tri-pillows and pressure-relieving mattresses.

Nursing and other clinical services

Our highly experienced nurses can assist you with taking medications and managing chronic disease such as diabetes, heart and lung disease, pain management and wound management including monitoring and changing dressings and applying prescribed skin creams. We also provide stomal therapy, catheter insertion and management, intravenous therapy and care after day surgery.

Exercise, physiotherapy and other allied health services

We can assist you with functional performance assessments (in hospital or at home) to determine your level of support or equipment required at home, falls prevention recommendations, access to speech therapy, podiatry, occupational or physiotherapy services. We can also help organise minor home modifications advised by your occupational therapist.

Getting out and about and staying socially connected

We can help out with shopping, visiting health practitioners and staying connected to your friends and community through being socially active. Our carers are also great company and enjoy spending time with you on your hobbies and interests.

More services over page


Eligibility & CostsYou’ll be pleased to know that when registering for Programmed Care’s Private Services there are no waiting periods and no means or eligibility testing. Simply get started with the care you need faster. Contact our team on 13 10 95 to get started with a service and price plan.

Health and wellbeing monitoring

We can provide regular wellbeing visits or daily check-ins to make sure you’re doing well. New technologies continue to improve remote monitoring to reduce the risk of falls and other incidents.

Helping you make the most of technology

Our tech savvy carers can help you use the internet and stay connected using useful tools such as email on your smart phone and other devices.

Respite for family members

We can help give family members and primary carers a break to re-charge their batteries and catch up on their own wellbeing needs and errands.

Companionship and holiday support

We have plenty of experience helping people like you continue to enjoy local and overseas holidays, with the peace of mind of knowing that personal and medical needs can continue to be supported while away from home.

If you have any questions please

give us a call – we’re here for you.

Contact us on

Phone: 13 10 95

Email: [email protected]


2. Commonwealth Home Support Program*

The Commonwealth Home Support Program

(CHSP) could be right for you if you can live

independently but would like some simple

day-to-day support, so you can focus your

energy on the more important things. It could

be used to access urgent or short-term care

while waiting for a Home Care Package (HCP).


A little bit of extra help around my home


ServicesDepending on your needs, you may

be eligible to receive assistance with:

• Household tasks like cleaning and laundry

• Minor general repairs and care of your house or garden

• Personal care including help with bathing, showering or getting dressed

• Installation of alarms, ramps and support rails

• Mobility and safety aids such as a bath seat and raised toilet seat

• A qualified nurse to assist with managing medications

• Access to social activities and transport for shopping or appointments

• Shopping for food, preparing meals and learning to cook

• Allied health and therapy services such as physiotherapy, podiatry, speech pathology, occupational therapy and advice from a dietitian

• Respite care for you while your carer takes a break

Eligibility & CostsYou may be eligible if you are:

• Having trouble performing everyday activities without help, and

• Need support to live independently

and are:

• 65 years or older (or 50 years or older and identify as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person) or

• 50 years or older (45 years or older for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people) and on a low income, homeless or at risk of being homeless

The Australian government subsidises a range of aged care services to keep fees reasonable and affordable. If you are eligible, you are expected to contribute to the cost of your care if you can afford to. You do not need an income assessment to access this program. It’s important to discuss and agree to any fees with your service provider before you receive services.

*Programmed Care does not currently provide CHSP services, however we are happy to connect you with an approved provider in your area.


Need immediate support?If you have been injured or hospitalised, you may be eligible for extra services through the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) for a short time to help you get back on your feet after you return home.

Health professionals can make referrals directly to service providers for urgent access to CHSP services. This applies where there is an identified need for an immediate health or safety intervention based on your current circumstance. Direct referrals are for short-term assistance with nursing, meals, transport and personal care. Following the provision of urgent support, you may then be assessed for an ongoing Home Care Package through My Aged Care.

If you think you’re in need of urgent care, speak with your hospital or general practitioner (GP).

You can also call us direct at Programmed Care to enquire about our private, self-funded services so that you can get started with help at home straight away.


3. Home Care Packages

Home Care Packages (HCP) are designed by you.

They allow you to take the things you need and

leave those you don’t. This flexibility and choice

puts you in control of the services you receive.

We can then provide specific regular assistance

to help you stay active while living at home –

and feel better connected to those around you.

There are four levels of home care packages:

LEVEL 1 – Basic care needs

LEVEL 2 – Low-level care needs

LEVEL 3 – Intermediate care needs

LEVEL 4 – High-level care needs

Home Care level 1 and 2 packages are not intended

to provide comprehensive clinical or health services.

Home Care level 3 and 4 packages have a greater

emphasis on delivering complex care in the home,

including more clinical care where needed. An ACAT/

ACAS assessment will determine which package

you are eligible for.


A higher level of personal care & nursing


ServicesExamples of the services we can assist you with as part of a home care package include:

Personal care and grooming

Assistance with taking care of yourself and looking good, including bathing, showering, toileting, dressing and undressing, hair and make-up.

Enjoying home cooked meals

Assistance with preparing your favourite foods. Ensuring we meet your dietary requirements for health, religious, cultural or other reasons; assistance with eating and feeding where needed.

Help around the home

Keep your home and garden looking good. We can take care of things like cleaning, laundry, ironing, bed making, light gardening and basic repairs such as changing light-globes and tap washers. We can even help with spring cleaning.

Continence management

Assistance in using continence aids and appliances such as disposable pads and absorbent aids, commode chairs, bedpans and urinals, catheter and urinary drainage appliances. You may even be eligible for financial aid to purchase consumables.

Keeping you mobile

Assistance with crutches, quadruped walkers, walking frames, walking sticks, mechanical devices for lifting, bed rails, slide sheets, sheepskins, tri-pillows and pressure-relieving mattresses.

Nursing and other clinical services

Our highly experienced nurses can assist you with taking your medications and managing chronic disease, pain management and wound management such as monitoring and changing dressings and applying prescribed skin creams. We also provide stomal therapy, catheter insertion and management, intravenous therapy and care after surgery.

Exercise, physiotherapy and other allied health services

We can complete functional performance assessments in your home to determine the level of support or equipment you require. We can provide recommendations to assist you with falls prevention as well as access to speech therapy, podiatry, occupational or physiotherapy services. Our team can even liaise with your occupational therapist to organise minor home modifications.

Getting out and about and staying socially connected

We can help out with shopping, visiting health practitioners and staying connected to your friends and community through being socially active. Our carers are also great company, and enjoy taking part in your hobbies and interests.

More services over page


Eligibility & CostsThere are two types of fees that you may need to pay if accessing a Home Care Package:

Basic daily fee

The government sets the maximum basic daily fee at 17.5% of the basic age pension, which may reduce depending on your level of package. The amount may be negotiated with your chosen provider based on what you can afford.

Income tested care fees (if your income is over a certain amount)

The government may also ask you to pay an income-tested care fee towards the cost of your care. This fee is different for everyone because it is based on your individual income. This fee is in addition to the basic daily fee.

Your income and assets assessment is conducted by the Department of Human Services or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. They will advise what fees you are required to pay.

If you currently receive a means tested income support payment such as the age pension or a Service Pension from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA), you will be automatically assessed and you do not need to do anything.

Programmed Care always recommends that you contact the Department of Human Services to ensure they have your current financial information.

Health and wellbeing monitoring

We can provide regular wellbeing visits or daily check-ins to make sure you’re doing well. New technologies continue to improve remote monitoring to reduce the risk of falls and other incidents.

Helping you make the most of technology

Our tech savvy carers can help you use the internet and stay connected using useful tools such as email on your smart phone and other devices.

Respite for family members

We can help give family members and primary carers a break to re-charge the batteries and catch up on their own wellbeing needs and errands.

To arrange your Income Assessment with the Department of Human Services (Centrelink) phone 1800 227 475 or Department of Veterans’ Affairs on 133 254.

You’ll need to complete an Aged Care Fees Income Assessment form before you can receive services.

A Home Care Fee Estimator can be found on the My Aged Care website: myagedcare.gov.au


Consider what you need help with now and what you might need help with in the future.

We know everyone is different, and needs a different level of care.

Get in touch with our team to discuss the best options for you and your family.

6 Steps to Accessing a Home Care Package (HCP)

Consider your needs1.

Undergo an assessment to determine your eligibility for a HCP.

An assessor, usually a nurse, social worker or other healthcare professional from an Aged Care Assessment Team or Service (ACAS in Victoria) will visit you at home to complete the assessment, and ask you questions about your lifestyle and health.

Contact our team for assistance in scheduling or preparing for the assessment. Find out more at My Aged Care or by phoning 1800 200 422.

Request an ACAT (or ACAS in Victoria) assessment2.

You will receive a letter from My Aged Care detailing your eligibility for a home care package, and the level of care you need.

Once approved, you will be notified when a package becomes available. In some areas, there may be a waiting period.

Our team can help you with any questions about your outcome. We also have a number of support options available if you need help during the waiting period.

Receive the outcome of your assessment3.

Organise an Income and Assets Assessment while you wait for your package.

To arrange an assessment, contact the Department of Human Services (Centrelink) on 1800 227 475, or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs on 133 254 if you receive a Service Pension. This will determine if you need to contribute extra funds towards your Home Care Package.

Our team can help you with any questions about what you may expect to pay.

Review your finances4.

Start by considering what’s important to you, and how you’d like your care team to help.

You can research local care providers on the My Aged Care website and put together a shortlist.

We believe your care plan should be as unique as you are. Arrange a free consultation with our team to find out how we can tailor our services to best suit your needs.

Choose a provider5.

Once your package becomes available, you will have 56 days to activate your services.

If you have chosen Programmed Care as your provider, we’ll get to know you and your needs right away so we can build a care team to support you.

We want to help you focus on the things that matter to you. Let us take care of the rest.

Start home care services6.


Bill served 13 years in

the Royal Australian Navy,

spending the majority

of his time sailing in

the Pacific.

After retiring from service, Bill relocated to Brisbane to commence work with the Department of Shipping and Transport, where he was responsible for maintaining a number of manned lighthouses along the Queensland coast. In his later years, Bill experienced a number of health issues stemming from his time in the armed forces. Following a short stint in hospital, it was decided his health had declined to a point where he needed to decide if he would continue to live in his own home with assistance or move into a residential aged care facility. Not willing to forgo his independence, or sell the family home, Bill decided to contact Programmed Care.

Since meeting Bill three years ago, we have adapted to his changing needs, and now provide personal and clinical care five times a week to ensure his health and hygiene is maintained, as well as domestic assistance every fortnight making sure his home is kept clean and tidy. Providing these services has allowed Bill to continue living in his family home where he has spent the past 60 years.

Meet one of

our clients

Meet Bill…


4. Transition Care Program

The Transition Care Program (TCP) provides support

to help you return home from hospital after an

accident, injury or illness. The program is designed

to help you reduce the length of your hospital stay

and/or avoid having to move into a residential aged

care home prematurely. It includes a variety of home

care and rehabilitation services to help you achieve

your goals and get back to feeling like yourself again

as quickly as possible.


Assistance to recover after hospitalisation


ServicesWe can help you with a range of services

depending on the assessment of your needs

which occurs as you near the end of your

hospital stay. Depending on the discharge

plan developed by your doctor for when you

leave the hospital, services can include:

• Program coordination to help arrange your care and services

• Home based nursing care to help manage your injuries and aid your recovery

• Help with personal care and day-to-day living, such as showering/bathing, dressing and personal grooming

• Therapies to assist with exercise, mobility, strength and balance

• Assistance with meals and help with domestic tasks

• Respite for your primary carer

• Access to equipment recommended by allied health professionals such as occupational therapists

• Transport to medical appointments

• The use of mobility aids or other assistive equipment

• Access to social workers

A Transition Care Program is designed to provide short-term support to help you recover after a hospital stay and is typically available for up to 12 weeks. Depending on your assessment, it may be extended to 18 weeks.

Transition Care temporarily replaces other funded services you may be receiving, such as a Home Care Package. Other services will be put on hold while you are receiving Transition Care and will resume at the end of the Transition Care period.

Eligibility & CostsYour assessment for a Transition Care

Program occurs when you are nearing the

end of your stay in hospital, and have been

assessed as someone who will benefit from

a program to help you get home sooner and

return to living independently as quickly

and as completely as possible.

An assessment for Transition Care is conducted via an Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT/ACAS). Hospital staff can help arrange this while you are still an in-patient.

While the Australian Government subsidises the Transition Care program, you’ll be expected to contribute to the cost of your care if you are able to, with all participants being asked to pay the basic care fee which is calculated at 17.5% of the single basic age pension rate.

Speak with your hospital discharge planner to arrange an eligibility assessment.


After 25 years in the Australian Army working as a weapons technician, including

tours of Borneo and Vietnam, Kevin now feels most comfortable at home creating

beautiful artwork, using wood burning techniques, with his dog Charlie by his side.

After losing his wife in 2010, Kevin felt the strain of his declining health and the burden of personal and domestic care slowly starting to add up. Two years ago, he decided to contact Programmed Care, and has since relied on a range of services to allow him to continue living in his own home.

Kevin receives care six times a week through a Veterans’ Home Care Program and also a DVA Community Nursing Program, which include nursing services, assistance with personal care and help around the house. Access to these services helps Kevin stay at home where he feels most comfortable, and provides peace of mind to his family living interstate.

Meet one of

our clientsMeet Kevin…


5. Short-Term Restorative Care

Short-Term Restorative Care (STRC) programs are

designed to help you recover from injury or illness

and aim to help you to stay independent and avoid

hospitalisation or early entry into residential aged

care. The eight-week program offers you complete

control of your recovery. Your goals become ours

as we match you up with the relevant health and

wellness experts, working together to help you to

get back to your old self again. The program is able

to provide innovative new assistive technologies

that keep you safe and secure during your recovery,

monitor your health and even connect you to your

loved ones.


Short-term support to avoid hospitalisation


ServicesThe types of services provided to you

through short-term restorative care will be

guided by an initial doctor’s assessment.

This will ensure your medical needs are

met. Services will be selected with your

input and chosen to meet your needs.

They may include, but are not limited to:

• Nursing care

• Assistance with personal care, showering, bathing and continence management

• Mobility aids and equipment

• Physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy

• Audiology, podiatry and chiropractic services

• Help with nutritional and diet advice as well as meal preparation

• Support from a counsellor, psychologist or social worker

• Help around your home with basic home maintenance tasks, cleaning and laundry

• Transportation to medical appointments, therapy groups and social outings

• Short-term accommodation in residential care

Eligibility & CostsTo be eligible you must:

• Be assessed by your local ACAT/ACAS

• Not be on a Home Care Package

• Not have been hospitalised in the last three months before the date of assessment

• Not received Transition Care in the last 6 months

• Not be living in a residential aged care facility

If your care is delivered in your home you may be asked to pay a basic daily fee of up to 17.5% of the single age pension.

You must pay fees for each day that you have a short-term restorative care package. They are generally paid to your service provider fortnightly or monthly. Your provider may ask you to pay for up to a week of care in advance.

Speak with your doctor about arranging a referral for an ACAT/ACAS assessment.


6. Respite Care

If you are living at home with the help of a live-

in carer, respite care can ensure that they get the

break they need to continue to provide you with

the best care possible. Should you think that your

primary carer could use some support or needs a

break, respite care can help to provide you both with

stand-in support networks. There are various options

available based on your specific circumstances.


Respite care to help my primary carer


ServicesThe Home Care Packages and Commonwealth Home Support Program can assist

you by providing government subsidised access to the following respite services:

In home respite • A carer coming to your home to relieve your regular carer

• Taking you out for a few hours to provide your carer with a short break

Centre-based day respite

• Providing access to a day centre or club to allow your carer time to themselves

• Transport to and from the day centre

Overnight or weekend respite, dependent on funding

• Providing a respite house

• Providing the home of a host family

Residential respite

• Provides a short stay in an aged care home on a planned or emergency basis

• Offers support for you and your carer

• Gives your carer the opportunity to attend personal events, go on holidays, or recover from injury or illness

• Accessible for up to 63 days of each financial year and can be extended to lots of 21 days pending an assessment


Eligibility & CostsCommunity respite

The cost of respite care depends on the care provider, the length of time involved, and the type of care. Some services are free, while others attract a contribution.

For Commonwealth Home Support Program eligibility and costs see page 15 and for Home Care Package eligibility and fees see page 19.

You will need to complete a free assessment to determine your needs and eligibility.

Residential respite

If you receive residential respite care through an aged care home, you won’t have to pay an accommodation charge or bond. You also won’t have to pay any additional income-tested fees.

You will, however, be asked to pay a basic daily fee and perhaps a booking fee. The booking fee is a prepayment of respite care fees and not an extra payment. The booking fee cannot be more than either a full week’s basic daily fee or 25% of the fee for the entire stay, depending on which amount is the lowest.

Find out more• Call the Commonwealth Respite

and Carelink Centre on 1800 052 222 for advice on the types of respite and support available in your area

• If you need respite due to an emergency, you can call 1800 059 059


7. Veterans’ Home Care Program

If you are a Gold Card or White Card holder and need

a little bit of practical help around the home or with

your personal care, on either a short-term or ongoing

basis, the Veterans’ Home Care (VHC) program can

assist you to maintain your health, quality of life and

ability to continue living at home. This service is not

designed specifically to meet complex clinical or

high-level care needs but provides more of a helping

hand around the house, taking some pressure off

where you need it. You can access these services by

contacting VHC or asking your GP to refer you.

I’m a veteran, war widow or widower and to stay living at home, I need…

A little bit of extra help around my home


ServicesVeterans’ Home Care is delivered by our experienced and highly skilled in-house team

of carers, as well as a network of preferred specialist providers, who together can assist

you with a range of in home support services to enable you to continue to enjoy living

independently at home. Services include:

Domestic assistance

• Basic household tasks such as vacuuming and mopping

• Laundry and ironing, bed making and linen changing

• Meal preparation

• Helping out with errands

Personal care • Help with personal care such as showering, bathing, toileting, dressing, grooming and eating

• Help with putting on compression stockings, splints and callipers

• Assistance to get in and out of bed

• Help with mobility around the house

• Application of non-medicated skin care creams and lotions

Maintenance • Minor home and garden maintenance tasks that are safety related such as replacing light bulbs, checking security and smoke alarms

• Keeping your gutters, windows and ceiling fans clean and in good shape

• Pruning of obstructive plants and trees

Respite care • In home, residential and emergency short-term respite for someone who is a carer of an entitled person or an entitled person who is a carer


Eligibility & CostsThe Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) operates a range of services for the Veterans’ community with the two main home care services being the Veterans’ Home Care and Community Nursing programs.

Entitled persons include veterans, war widows or widowers who have a Gold Card or White Card.

A small co-payment applies for the VHC program: $2.50 for a personal care visit and $5 per hour for domestic assistance, home and garden maintenance.

You can contact the Veterans’ Home Care Assessment Agency on 1300 550 450 to enquire about the costs in more detail and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs on 133 254 (or 1800 555 254 for regional callers) to enquire about your eligibility and to organise an assessment.


8. DVA Community Nursing Program

If you are a veteran of the Australian Defence

Forces, or a war widow or widower, DVA provides

a Community Nursing Program with access to

community nursing services to meet your assessed

clinical and personal care needs. The Community

Nursing Program assists you to continue living

independently by supporting your health and

wellbeing. The aim of the program is to enhance

independence and health outcomes by avoiding

admission to hospital or residential care. You can

access this service by contacting Programmed

Care or through a referral from your GP or hospital

discharge coordinator.

I’m a veteran, war widow or widower and to stay living at home, I need…

A higher level of personal care & nursing


ServicesDVA Community Nursing services are

delivered by our highly experienced nurses

and support staff. A wide range of nursing,

care and therapy services are available to

help you maintain your health and safety

at home. Your personalised treatment plan,

including both clinical and wellbeing goals,

will be developed in close consultation

with you and your medical practitioner(s).

Services can include:

• Assistance with taking your medications

• Chronic disease management including diabetes, heart, and lung disease

• Pain management

• Wound management including monitoring and changing dressings

• Applying prescribed skin creams

• Stomal therapy

• Catheter insertion and management

• Intravenous therapy

• Continence management

• In home nursing care after day surgery or other hospitalisation to help you recover faster

• Functional Performance Assessments by our occupational therapists who may prescribe equipment to support your independence

• Falls prevention recommendations

• Referral to other support services including Veterans’ Home Care and Meals on Wheels

• Access to speech therapy, podiatry, occupational or physiotherapy services, hearing and vision services

Eligibility & CostsTo be eligible to receive community

nursing services, you must be a Gold Card

or a White Card holder, and undergo an

assessment to determine your need for

clinical and/or personal care.

There is no cost to you if you are assessed

as eligible for a DVA Community Nursing

Program.

For more information about services available to DVA White and Gold card holders:

• Call 133 254 (or 1800 555 254 for regional callers)

• dva.gov.au/health-and wellbeing/ home-and-care/aged-and community-care


Meet some of

our team

Julie – Clinical Manager

Julie is a Registered Nurse with over 20 years’ experience in providing in home nursing and care services. Highly qualified, with a Certificate IV in Workplace Training & Assessment, Diploma in Business Management and Post Graduate Certificate in Clinical Management, Julie plays a key role in the staff education program across our Veterans’ Home Care and Community Nursing team, ensuring we provide highly skilled and medically trained staff. Julie has a direct role in hospital liaison, clinical care planning and oversees the coordination of staff and services on the east coast.

Sally – Clinical Nurse

Sally is one of our long standing Registered Nurses, with over 20 years’ service. Sally has specialty skills in wound care, continence and stomal therapy and has worked extensively with veterans throughout her career. Sally is also involved in hospital liaison, care coordination and specialty funding applications for individuals with high care needs.


Debi – Registered Nurse

Community nursing provides Debi with flexibility and variation in her day. She visits clients throughout south east Queensland and loves meeting many great personalities along the way. Debi carries out in-home assessments, implementation of simple to complex wound care, showering assistance for those returning from hospital or at risk of falls, continence assessments and medication administration.

She enjoys being part of a team that make positive differences to people every day, enabling them to continue living in their own homes for as long as possible. “Focusing on one person at a time allows me to truly perform my job well and achieve the best outcome for each person, it’s a great way to work.”

Daniel – Care Manager

Daniel is a Registered Nurse with over 10 years of experience, working across a range of settings from intensive care and surgical, through to paediatrics and day surgery. He was lucky to travel to London six years ago to gain some experience in community care, where he managed a community nursing and social care service. Having really enjoyed this work, Daniel continued on this path back in Australia and later joined Programmed in 2018.

Daniel finds that “helping to support a person to maintain an independent lifestyle is incredibly rewarding.” He also loves that no two days are the same, “it’s an amazing feeling to finish the day knowing you’ve made a difference in a person’s life.”


Why Programmed Care?• We shape our services to suit you, and

understand that everyone is different and

needs a personalised program of services

• We have been doing this for a long time,

so we can help you navigate available care

options and access the right support to

stay living independently at home

• We have been a nursing service from

our very beginnings, so you can be

confident that you are in safe hands

with a highly qualified clinical as well

as personal care team

• We understand that allowing someone

into your home to provide personal

services requires trust and mutual respect.

Our experienced team will work with you

to maintain your privacy and dignity

• Our team of nurses and carers undergo

rigorous selection and training; we not

only recruit for the right qualifications,

but we look for people who are genuinely

passionate about providing care in

the home

• All costs are discussed with you

transparently at the initial meeting in

your home with your Care Coordinator

and your family member, if desired

• We stay in touch regularly with you and

your family to tailor your care plan in tune

with your changing needs

• We are an approved provider of

government funded home care programs

and part of a large, national and trusted

organisation with a reputation for safety,

customer service and care and empathy

for people. We’re also just around the

corner when you need us


We’ll take care of the rest

so that you can continue

to focus on the things

that matter to you.

Or if you are just starting

out, our Care Consultants

can help you to

understand your options

for aged care services at

home, explain how the

eligibility process works and

connect you to My Aged Care

to organise your assessment.

Getting started with Programmed CareTo choose Programmed Care as your provider for

either government funded or private services, simply

call our friendly care team today on 13 10 95

or email: [email protected].


Notes


13 10 95 [email protected] programmed.com.au/care 42 13 10 95 [email protected] programmed.com.au/care 42

Useful acronym list Some handy definitions commonly used for aged care at home

ACAT

Aged Care

Assessment Team

ACAS

Aged Care Assessment

Service (ACAT equivalent

in Victoria)

CHSP

Commonwealth Home

Support Program

CRCC

Commonwealth Respite

and Carelink Centre

DVA

Department of

Veterans’ Affairs

HCP

Home Care Package

RAS

Regional Assessment

Service

STRC

Short-Term

Restorative

Care

TCP

Transition Care Program

VHC

Veterans’ Home Care

Service Provider

Refers to care

organisations like

Programmed Care who

will provide your services.

[email protected]

programmed.com.au/care

Call our team today: 13 10 95

your guide to aged care and nursing services at home · 2019-11-24 · 13 10 95...

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