Home Care

The Home Care Services Unit provide in-home support to people of all ages with disabilities, and to frail aged people who wish to remain in their own homes, but require assistance to maintain their independence. Short-term assistance for families in crisis may also be provided. Support to carers is also a vital component of Home Care.

Support can be provided in-home with the following:

• housekeeping - cleaning, washing, shopping, meal preparation
• administration tasks such as making and keeping appointments, bill paying
• assistance with skills development or rehabilitation programs under the direction of professional staff from Council or hospitals
• personal care including grooming, shaving, showering
• respite for carer's overnight care may be possible in special circumstances

Although the below information gives an outline of the in-home services provided by Council, if your needs are different please talk to us. We are flexible and may still be able to help or can refer you to someone who can.

What is Home Care?

Home Care is assistance with cleaning and administrative tasks which people would normally do for themselves, but because of illness, frailty or disability they are unable to undertake without the assistance of another person.

• The Home Care service provides essential house cleaning of areas regularly used by the client. These include bathrooms, toilets, kitchens, laundries, living areas and bedrooms
• Where appropriate, Home Care Workers can prepare meals, do shopping, undertake small errands and pay bills as required. Home Care Workers may also escort clients to do shopping and pay bills, or to attend medical and related apointments
• The focus is to provide a service which enhances and maintain abilities and independence of the client. Home Care Workers also monitor the well-being and other circumstances of the client
• Tasks undertaken by Home Care Workers are agreed to by the client at the assessment. Any variation to the agreed tasks needs to be approved by the Assessment & Care Management Worker.

How Much Home Care can I Have?

• Home Care services are available seven days per week, but General Home Care is usually provided Monday to Friday.
• Allocation of home care services is determined by the assessed needs of the client
• Generally around 1 to 1.5 hours per fortnight.

How to Apply?

To make a referral to the Home Care Program contact the Intake Worker at Aged & Disability Services on 5320 5629.

What Will it Cost?

Home Care Services are Government funded throught the Home & Community Care (HACC) Program and are available to eligible clients. The HACC program has a fees policy which Council applies in order to determine appropriate fees and charges for clients. Client fees are determined by a means test and are discussed with you by the Assessment Worker at your assessment visit.

Information Assessment and Referrals

Home Care assessment staff are able to provide information on various services in Ballarat for older people and people with disabilities. They are responsible for assessment of individual needs when people are referred for help and usually arrange an appointment to visit the person at home. Assessment staff can assist in considering the range of care or support options available and will help with referral to appropriate services or with arranging specialist assessment if required.

Assessment staff are also responsible for arranging the provision or variation of agreed Council Home Care Services.

Food Services

Food Services are part of the integrated Home Care Service provided by the City of Ballarat and include:

• assistance with shopping
• meal preparation
• skills development in planning and preparing meals
• a delivered meal service

The delivered meal service, available daily, provides a three course meal delivered to the home. Special diets can be provided, for example, vegetarian, diabetic, low fat or low salt and particular food preferences can be considered.

Home Maintenance

The Home Maintenance Service aims to assist people who are unable to maintain their own homes to continue to live independently and safely. Home Maintenance can assist with minor repairs and modifications.

Maintenance work which can be undertaken includes:

• installation of hand rails and other aids and equipment
• replacement of locks, wire screens, repairs to doors, steps
• replacement of fuses, light globes, smoke detector batteries
• cleaning gutters and spouts
• minor necessary renovations, eg. ramps

This service can also assist with information about trustworthy and reliable tradesmen you may like to consider where work required is beyond the capacity of the Home Maintenance Program.

Fees

Fees are charged for all services, usually based on a sliding scale according to income. No-one will be denied a necessary service because of inability to pay, and the fee level can be negotiated where payment is a problem. Council sets the general schedule of fees annually.

Rights and Responsibilities

The right to:

• dignity and privacy
• access to service on the basis of need
• be well informed about support options and cost
• make your own decisions
• complain and have the complaint dealt with quickly and fairly

The responsibility:

• to participate in decision-making
• for the outcomes of your decisions
• to speak up if you are not happy with the service provided
• to afford respect and dignity to staff and other consumers

Contact Details

For more information please contact the Home Care Section by phone 03 5320 5670, TTY 03 5320 5636, fax 03 5320 5592, or call in at The Phoenix, 25 Armstrong Street South, Ballarat.