Aged Services

AGED CARE – WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS?

We provide a range of aged care services to support your choice to live independently in your own home and stay connected with your community. Whether you need a few hours of domestic help each week or daily assistance, we shape our services to meet your requirements.

The Australian Government funds in-home care services to support you, through its:

  • Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) – suitable for people with basic care needs who live a fairly active life and need only occasional help. For example, assistance with housework, shopping, respite, attending a social activity or transport.
  • Home Care Packages Program (HCPP) or ‘Packaged Care’ – suitable for people who are less active and have medium- to high-level care needs but want to remain living at home. The services in a package are coordinated and tailored to meet your specific needs. There are four levels of care under the HCPP offering different amounts of subsidy.

You may be eligible for government funding if you are an older person (usually 65+ or 50+ for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people) finding it harder to do the things you used to do.

You will need to have a face-to-face assessment of your care needs through My Aged Care to find out if you are eligible.

The aged care system in Australia can be complicated and confusing. We can assist you to navigate the system and will happily contact My Aged Care on your behalf. Call our Intake Officers on (02) 9597 5455.

OR you can contact My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 or via the My Aged Care website.

HOW WE CAN HELP YOU

Advance Diversity Services has been providing culturally specific aged care services to people in the South-East Sydney region for more than 20 years.

We want you to feel confident about your choice to live independently in your own home, and to get the most from your government-subsidised aged care package.

This means we’ll support you and your family in your decisions and work with you to achieve your goals – tailoring flexible services to support your wellbeing.

We respect your privacy, dignity and confidentiality – always – protecting your personal information in compliance with the Australian Privacy Act and Principles, and guided by your individual needs, choices and preferences.

 

Expertise in culturally appropriate care

We specialise in providing care to older people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds and employ a dedicated team of bilingual aged care professionals who can respond to your cultural and spiritual needs. We tailor our services to support the important dietary, religious and cultural differences that exist in our diverse community and will assist you to maintain your valued traditions.

 

Understanding the care that’s available

My Aged Care is the starting point for information and access to age-related services in Australia. Consumer Directed Care (CDC) gives older people the chance to make informed decisions about the types and services they would like to receive. We work closely with you to help you understand your choices and to make the best use of the government funding support that’s available. You can also visit the My Aged Care website or call them on 1800 200 422.

 

Providing pathways to residential care

We can refer you to a range of reputable and affordable residential care providers to ensure you get the support you need as your care needs become more complex. If your needs are simple, but you still wish to relocate from your home to a residential care facility, we can help you make this move too. Under the Consumer Directed Care system, the choice is yours. Our goal is to help you to get the best possible care in your own home and in the community.

AGED CARE SERVICES WE PROVIDE

COMMONWEALTH HOME SUPPORT PROGRAM (CHSP)

Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP)

We offer a range of flexible services to meet your home care needs. Our dedicated staff take pride in their work and offer professional care that’s shaped by your preferences. As a non-profit provider, our services are also cost-effective.

Choose the support you would like to receive from the following services. (hotlink each category please)

 

DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE

We’ll help you with:

  • Shopping (doing it for you)
  • Laundry
  • Light meal preparation
  • Light cleaning in your home, including dusting, vacuuming and mopping

SOCIAL SUPPORT

Isolated people can be more vulnerable to depression and illness and at greater risk of having accidents at home. We’ll help you to stay well and well connected through a range of services including centre-based day care, bus outings, and individual social support.

 

Multicultural day care group

Our centre-based day care service gives seniors from diverse cultural backgrounds the opportunity to meet with people from their home country, make new friends, and converse in their language of origin. Groups cater for people who speak Arabic, Cantonese and Mandarin, Greek, Italian, Maltese, Macedonian and Spanish, and for Coptic and Muslim women.

Wellness and reablement are at the heart of all our activities and we help you to remain active and healthy through gentle group exercise, art and craft, music, festival celebrations and theme days. Our safe and supportive environment will encourage you to interact and build friendships. We also provide nutritious, culturally appropriate low-cost meals, and have a fleet of buses to transport you to and from activities.

 

Social bus outings 

Our popular day trips take you to interesting places in greater Sydney and give you opportunities to make friends and socialise. Our friendly drivers pick you up from your pre-determined meeting point and return you to this point at the end of your trip.

 

Individual social support

If you’re unable to travel to our Bexley centre (at 405 Bexley Road) we can provide individual social support for you at home. Carers from your language and cultural background will visit to provide one-on-one support, and also help you stay socially connected. They can also help with simple tasks at home and assist you to enjoy social outings like going to the park, shopping and having coffee with friends.

 

RESPITE AND CARER SUPPORT

If you’re a carer it is important to take breaks, look after your own health needs, and maintain your social networks.

We can assist you with this through:

 

Flexible respite – providing professional support for your loved one while you take a break to catch up with other responsibilities, meet with friends, take part in a social activity, or just to get some rest.

Counselling and support – including short-term emotional and psychological support, guidance in your relationship with the person you care for, helping you to manage challenging behaviours (e.g. dementia), grief counselling, and advice about your rights as a carer.

Chinese carers and social groups – supporting Cantonese- and Mandarin-speaking carers and families to share their thoughts, needs and concerns with like-minded people. Many carers and families enjoy coming to these groups because they can speak freely about what it is like to care for a loved one and also learn from each other.

INFORMATION, SUPPORT, REFERRALS AND ADVOCACY

Advance Diversity Services is a vital hub for people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds living in South-Eastern Sydney. Our culturally proficient, bilingual staff members are committed to providing information, advocacy, and support to older people, people with a disability, and their carers.

Our goal is to ensure our clients make the best use of the support available, are aware of changes to the aged care system as they happen, and receive the assistance they need to live independently in their own homes for as long as they choose.

We advocate on behalf of local CALD communities through the Multicultural Sector Support and Development Program, which provides community education programs to CALD seniors to improve their access to community services. We also train other service providers to understand the needs of CALD people and to address emerging needs in CALD communities.

 

HOW MUCH ARE CHSP SERVICES?

The Australian Government subsidises the cost of providing aged care services to people in their homes. However, people are also expected to contribute towards the cost of their care.

As a non-profit provider, we are committed to providing the best service for you at the lowest possible price. Our staff will discuss the cost of services at your initial consultation and prior to commencement of your services.

HOW TO GET CHSP SERVICES?

The aged care system in Australia can be complicated and confusing. Here are five easy steps to get your CHSP service:

Step 1

Call our Intake Officers on (02) 9597 5455 who can assist you to navigate the system and will happily contact My Aged Care on your behalf. OR you can contact My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 or visit the My Aged Care website.

Step 2

Register with the My Aged Care website.

Step 3

You will be assessed by the Regional Assessment Team.

Step 4

Once you’ve been assessed and approved, you can choose Advance Diversity Services as your provider by calling us on (02) 9597 5455. Our staff will discuss your needs and preferences, and what services you wish to access. We offer no obligation consultation.

Step 5

Sign your service agreement with us and your services will commence.

HOME CARE PACKAGE PROGRAM (HCPP)

Home Care Packages Program (HCPP)

A Home Care Package is a Government-subsidised package of services that helps people aged 65 years and over to live independently at home for as long as they wish.

There are four levels of Home Care Package funding:

Level 1 – for people with basic care needs

Level 2 – for people with low-level care needs

Level 3 – for people with intermediate care needs

Level 4 – for people with high-level care needs

 

Your Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) will let you know which package level you have been allocated. Our staff will then arrange a consultation to help you to determine the combination of services you’d like to receive as part of your Care Plan.

Your Home Care Package will include case management (or you can self-manage your package) and assistance with your choice from the following services: (hotlink each category please)

  • Personal care

Helping you with showering, dressing, grooming, feeding and mobility.

  • Home Care Packages Program (HCPP)A Home Care Package is a Government-subsidised package of services that helps people aged 65 years and over to live independently at home for as long as they wish.There are four levels of Home Care Package funding:Level 1 – for people with basic care needsLevel 2 – for people with low-level care needsLevel 3 – for people with intermediate care needsLevel 4 – for people with high-level care needsYour Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) will let you know which package level you have been allocated. Our staff will then arrange a consultation to help you to determine the combination of services you’d like to receive as part of your Care Plan.Your Home Care Package will include case management (or you can self-manage your package) and assistance with your choice from the following services: (hotlink each category please)
    • Personal care

    Helping you with showering, dressing, grooming, feeding and mobility.

    • Domestic assistance

    Assisting you with vacuuming, laundry, dishwashing, shopping and meal preparation.

    • Transport

    Transporting you to appointments, shops or social activities. We can also assist you with public transport – either by travelling with you to appointments or by training you how to use it.

    • Clinical care

    Nursing care, wound care and medication management by our registered nurses, or referrals to other specialist services that support your health and wellbeing.

    • Allied health / specialist care

    Podiatry, physiotherapy, dietician visits, occupational therapy and more – all targeted to help improve your mobility and independence and usually determined in consultation with your doctor.

    • Social support

    Companionship, one-on-one support, social groups, hobbies and community activities that help you stay connected with your family, friends and community.

    • Home maintenance and modification

    Help with tasks like lawn mowing, minor repairs, changing light bulbs, installing a smoke alarm, putting in grab rails, easy-to-use tap sets, shower rails and ramps.

    • Assistive equipment and safety

    Supporting you to stay independent and safe with mobility aids like wheelchairs, walking frames, shower chairs and commodes, and safety devices like a personal alarm or emergency monitoring system.

    • And more

    Please talk to our staff to find out what else we can provide.

     

    HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

    The amount of subsidy you’ll receive to pay for your in-home services is determined by the Australian Department of Human Services and based on your income and level of care. Where your personal circumstances allow, it is expected that you will contribute towards the cost of your care. Assistance is available for people in financial hardship to help cover the cost of receiving aged care services in their homes.

    The Help at Home: costs explained brochure outlines the costs involved. The Australian Government’s Home Care Fee Estimator can help you estimate what you’ll pay for your home care services.

    When you contact us about assisting with your home care services our staff will also go through the costs with you. As we are a non-profit provider, we’re committed to offering you the best service at the lowest possible price.

    If you believe you will face financial hardship in paying your home care fees, you can ask to be considered for financial hardship assistance. We’ll explain how you can access the Hardship Supplement to help reduce your care fees, and outline other support services available in your area.

     

    HOW TO GET HCPP SERVICES?

    Follow these five easy steps to get your My Aged Care Home Care Package.

    Step 1 – Call us

    Call our Intake Officers on (02) 9597 5455 who can assist you to navigate the system and contact My Aged Care on your behalf. OR contact My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 or visit the My Aged Care website.

    Step 2 – Assessment

    You will be assessed by the Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) in your home to determine your eligibility for a Home Care Package and level of care. If you wish, we can be with you for this assessment.

    Step 3 – Waiting list

    You will receive a letter from My Aged Care informing you whether you have been approved for funding, and at what level. Once approved, you may be put on the national waiting list for a Home Care Package depending on packages available at the time. Call us on (02) 9597 5455 if you need assistance while you’re on the waiting list.

    Step 4 – Allocation

    You will receive a letter from My Aged Care when you have been allocated a Home Care Package. If you’d like Advance Diversity Services to be your provider call us on (02) 9597 5455. We’ll discuss the types of services you wish to receive, and how these services will meet your needs. We offer no obligation consultation.

    Step 5 – Sign the agreement

    Sign your service agreement with us and your services will commence.