Care in Your Home

If you're finding that daily activities are becoming more difficult, or would benefit from nursing care at home, then you may want to consider one of the following services.

Support@Home

If you, or someone you care for is finding daily activities such as shopping, cleaning, bathing and driving are becoming more difficult, our Support@Home service may be right for you. The team offer a range of day-to-day supports to enable people to live safely and independently in their own home for as long as possible.

If you find the process at all confusing or have questions don’t hesitate to contact us by email mdhsupportathome@mdh.org.au or call 03 5775 8735 during business hours.

  • Areas of Care

    MDH is Mansfield and districts local provider of the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP), Aged Care Package services, Home and Community Care (HACC), Program for Younger People (PYP).

    Through these programs our Support@Home service is funded to provide help with day-to-day activities to enable you to stay at home for as long as possible.

    Help in your home looks different for everyone. For some people it’s a hand with shopping, cooking or gardening. For others it is help to bathe and dress, manage an illness, drive or add home modifications to make it easier and safer for you to move around.

    Meals on Wheels
    • Nutritious meal cooked daily at MDH. If you live within 5km of Mansfield township meals are delivered by volunteers. If you’re outside of 5kms then you, family or a friend can collect your meals.
    Personal Care Assistance
    • Help with bathing, showering and grooming.
    • Help to prepare meals.
    Domestic Assistance
    • Support you to keep your home clean and safe.
    • Help with shopping.
    Garden Maintenance & Home Modifications
    • Support to keep your home and garden tidy and safe, including minor repairs.
    • Smoke alarm checks.
    • Install grab rails.
    Transport
    • Drive you to appointments and community activities.
    • Social Support Groups.
    • Support to stay connected to people in your community through group activities and outings.
    • Exercise groups to keep you strong and active.
    Respite
    • Support for you and your carer by giving you both a break.
  • Eligibility

    Australian Government’s My Aged Care website has a step-by-step guide to help you check if you are eligible for home care services.

    The two basic criteria are:

    • That you are 65 years or older, or 50 years or older if you are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.
    • Need help with day-to-day activities, but with some help you are able to safely live at home.

    If you are younger and living with a disability or chronic condition, please call us to check your eligibility for our services. Our contact details are below.

  • Accessing Services
    For Older People

    Your first step is to contact My Aged Care to discuss your needs, check your eligibility and apply. You can do this through their website or by calling 1800 200 422. The website has a lot of helpful information that we encourage you to read (with perhaps a family member or friend as there is a lot to take in).

    After you’ve applied, My Aged Care will contact you for an assessment, which usually happens in your home. The assessment will be done by either the Regional Assessment Service (RAS) or The Aged Care Assessment Service (ACAS). They will tell you if you are eligible for government-funded aged care, and if so, which ones. If you are eligible for the Home Support Program, you will be able to choose us as your service provider.

    Care Finder - Support for Older People

    Navigating the maze of aged care services can be confusing. Some older people need extra support to find the right aged care services and other support in the community, and that’s where our Care Finder service can help. Care Finder is a free service for older people who don’t have the support they need to learn about, apply for and set up support services. If you, or someone you know, could benefit from this support please call our reception team on 03 5775 8800 during business hours and ask for the Care Finder Coordinator.

    For Younger People

    If you are younger and living with a disability, please call us to discuss your needs.

  • Costs

    The costs of home care services vary from person to person. If you can afford to, you’ll be expected to contribute towards the cost of your care. How much you contribute depends on your income and the type and number of services you need. Fees are detailed in the below attachment. If you’d like to discuss costs please contact us, our details are below.

    Each service provider is required to have their own client contribution policy and will use it to determine your fees. Service providers are expected to make their client contribution policy publicly available. You can ask your service provider to give you a copy of theirs. To work out your fees, your service provider will consider the information you supplied during your home support assessment (with the RAS assessor) and may ask you questions about your financial situation. They will take into account your ability to pay and the number and type of services you are seeking.

Visiting Nurse Service

Our Visiting Nurse Service provides nursing care in your home. We believe that home is often the best place to recover and get well. Our nurses can assess your needs, deliver the care you need, educate you, your carer and your family about your illness and treatments, and link you with other services that may be helpful. You may need nursing care at home for just a couple of visits, for several weeks or your needs may be ongoing.

  • Areas of Care

    Services include:

    • Assessing the care you need.
    • Wound care including after surgery.
    • Bowel and bladder care.
    • Nutrition and feeding.
    • End of life (palliative) care.
    • Diabetes care.
    • Managing and administering your medications.
    • Bathing, showering, and dressing.
  • Eligibility

    Everybody who is assessed as needing clinical nursing care at home is eligible for the Visiting Nurse Service.

    Most of our older clients are assessed for the service through their My Aged Care support plan.

  • Accessing Services

    You can access the Visiting Nursing Service in several ways.

    Through My Aged Care

    If you are 65 years or older, or 50 years or older if you are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and are a client of My Aged Care, your home clinical nursing care will have been assessed and detailed in your support plan.

    If you’ve chosen Mansfield District Hospital as your provider, then My Aged Care will contact us directly to organise the Visiting Nurse Service.

    If you are not registered with My Aged Care you may wish to do this. Contact My Aged Care to discuss your needs, check your eligibility (you must be 65 years or older, or 50 years or older if you are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander) and apply. You can do this through their website or by calling 1800 200 422. Their website has a lot of helpful information that we encourage you to read (with perhaps a family member or friend as there is a lot to take in).

    Care Finder - Support for Older People

    Navigating the maze of aged care services can be confusing. Some older people need extra support to find the right aged care services and other supports in the community, and that’s where our Care Finder service can help. Care Finder is a free service for older people who don’t have the support they need to learn about, apply for and set up support services. If you, or someone you know could benefit from this support please call our reception team on 03 5775 8800 during business hours and ask for the Care Finder Coordinator.

    By Referral

    If you have been a patient with us, your hospital care team may link you with the Visiting Nurse Service as part of your care plan after you leave hospital (called ‘discharge planning’). Your GP or other health care professional is also able to refer you directly to us.

    Alternatively, you, your carer or a family member can contact us directly.

  • Costs

    The costs of home care services vary from person to person. If you can afford to, you’ll expected to contribute towards the cost of your care. How much you contribute depends on your income and the services you need.

    Fees are details here If you’d like to discuss costs please contact us.

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Contact

We are here to help. If you find the process at all confusing or have questions don’t hesitate to contact us during business hours on 03 5775 8800 and ask for the Visiting Nurse Service Coordinator.

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