Community Aged Care Packages

Community Options

Extended Aged Care at Home and Dementia

Home and community care programs

Home library

Meals on Wheels

Regional Integrated Support Service

Extended Aged Care at Home and Dementia (EACH & EACHD)

To support people who are 70+ years of age, and wish to be cared for in their own home.

Extended Aged Care at Home and Extended Aged Care at Home - Dementia are considered to be the Nursing Home equivalent level of care in your own home. Entry is via an assessment through the Age Care Assessment Team (ACAT) located from the Community Health Service in Grafton their phone number is 66402 413.

Once you are eligible and a care package is available, a Service Co-ordinator and a representative of a clinical health team will do a joint home visit to discuss your care needs. A package of care provides various types of services that support your ability to remain at home.

This Program is funded by the Commonwealth Department of Health & Ageing (DoHA)

What type of assistance is available?

Support may include, but is not limited to:

• personal care meals
• house keeping
• socialisation
• transport
• home nursing
• respite care
• equipment (walking frames, personal alarms etc)

Other assistance which may assist you to remain at home can be considered.

How much will you pay?

An affordable fee for services applies. The basic fee shall be 17.5% of the single maximum pension. Clients on a full pension with no other income will pay no more than $46.20 per week (current as at March 2008). No one is denied assistance because they cannot afford to pay.

Who is eligible?

Packages are for people who:

• wish to remain in their own home but, without support, are at risk of premature entry into residential care
• live within the Clarence Coast region
• have a carer who needs support
• find coordination of services difficult
• they need more support than is currently available from existing service providers
• the cost of support through the program is less than the cost of the residential care for which they would be eligible
• require services or resources that are at the time unavailable through other programs

Can all requests for support be met?

The Program has limited funds so assistance goes to those who need it most. Priority is given to people who:

• cannot afford private support services
• live in insecure or unsuitable housing
• experience some risks to their quality of life or safety
• experience some difficulties with everyday tasks and activities
• don't have the support of family or other carers
• live alone
• live in isolated rural areas
• are confused or have dementia
• have special needs due to language or cultural differences
• could have to go to a residential facility if support is not provided