Aged Care Health Services

What is Aged Care

Aged Care is the term used for support and services including nursing care provided to Australian Residents aged 65 or older either living independently or living in residential care. Aged Care can be split in to two categories; Home Care services and Residential care.

Home Care services are provided in the home and these services can be accessed either through My Aged Care (1800 200 422) or through local private care providers. The purpose of these services is to support older people to live at home independently and safely for as long as possible to prevent unnecessary hospitalisation or premature entry in to residential care. Services can also be tailored to support the carer to help sustain them in their role. An example of these services are meals on wheels, domestic assistance (cleaning, linen change, etc), transport, social support and the list goes on.

Residential care is delivered in an Aged Care facility for people who can no longer live at home safely and independently. To access residential care you will need an ACAT (Aged Care Assessment Team) which can also be accessed via My Aged Care (1800 200 422). Residential care used to be known as either hostel care or nursing home care. You can also access residential care for a few weeks at a time as needed and this is known as respite care. Respite care is also approved by ACAT and you can request this through My Aged Care (1800 200 422).

Cost of Aged Care services and residential care:

There are costs associated with both home care services and residential care, however these costs can be discussed with the appropriate service/residential care facility. For further information on the cost of services click on this link: https://www.myagedcare.gov.au/costs.

For guidance or more information please speak to your GP or a Health Professional.

See Northern Sydney Aged Care Services & Resources listed below.


Name:Advance Care Planning Australia
Phone:1300 208 582
Email:acpa@austin.org.au
Website:http://www.advancecareplanning.org.au
Description:

Advance Care Planning Australia (ACPA) is a national program funded by the Australian Government Department of Health, enabling Australians to make the best choices for their life and health care.

Referral Required:No

Name:Advance Care Planning Community Workbook
Website:https://sydneynorthhealthnetwork.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Advance-Care-Planning-Community-Workbook-NSLHD-includes-ACP-template.pdf
Description:

This workbook is a guide to help you through the process of advance care planning. It includes a
number of thought provoking questions to help you explore the values and beliefs that influence your health-care decisions.

Referral Required:No

Name:Aged Care Facilities Search for Sydney
Website:http://www.agedcareonline.com.au/residential-aged-care/new-south-wales/sydney?range=20
Description:

Aged Care Online one of Australia’s most trusted online directories of Residential Aged Care Homes & Home Care Services. The site is targeted at people searching for aged care services online and has over 5,200 aged care service providers currently listed. The website is supported by a national sales team promoting and marketing the directory in every state of Australia.

Referral Required:No

Name:BRACE Falls Prevention Clinic
Location:Mona Vale and Manly
Website:http://www.nslhd.health.nsw.gov.au/Services/Directory/Pages/Falls-Prevention-Clinic-(BRACE).aspx
Description:

For people aged over 70 years, at high risk of falls, or recurrent falls, living in their own home or independent living units.

Review of risk factors. Following the assessment the doctor will send a letter to the patient’s GP with recommendations for reducing falls risk factors.

Referral Required:Yes

Name:CALD Advance Care Planning
Website:http://www.acptalk.com.au/
Description:

This website was designed in collaboration with Australian religious and cultural leaders and organisations. It is intended to provide informational support for health professionals conducting advance care planning with people from different religious and cultural backgrounds.

Referral Required:No

Name:Checklist: Developing your care plan
Phone:1800 200 422
Website:https://sydneynorthhealthnetwork.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/consumer-checklist-planning-your-package.pdf
Description:

Once you have been assessed as eligible for a Home Care Package and found a home care
provider, you will need to co-design your care plan with your provider and enter into a Home
Care Agreement.

Referral Required:No

Name:Consumers Guide to Home Care Service Agreements
Phone:03 9909 7910
Email:homecaretoday@cota.org.au
Website:https://sydneynorthhealthnetwork.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Consumers-Guide-to-HomeCare-Agreements.pdf
Description:

Home Care Today is a national resource that aims to support consumers and providers to
work together to successfully implement Consumer Directed Care in Home Care Packages.

Referral Required:No

Name:Defining Characteristics of Consumer Directed Care (CDC)
Website:https://sydneynorthhealthnetwork.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Difference-Between-Person-Centred-CDC-Services.pdf
Description:

There is discussion and confusion about the differences between traditional home care service delivery, person-centred care and consumer directed care. This document outlines the differences between these models.

Referral Required:No

Name:Dementia Behaviour Management Advisory Service (DBMAS)
Phone:1800 699 799
Email:dsa@dementia.com.au
Website:http://dbmas.org.au/
Description:

The Dementia Behaviour Management Advisory Service (DBMAS) is a national free service funded by the Australian Government and operated and administered by Dementia Support Australia.

Referral Required:No

Name:Fact sheet: How to get started with My Aged Care
Phone:1800 200 422
Website:https://sydneynorthhealthnetwork.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/my_aged_care_consumer_brochure.pdf
Description:

It’s never too early to talk about getting some extra help. Knowing what services are available before you need them will help you be prepared to make decisions about your future.

Referral Required:No

Name:How to start the discussion - Dying to Talk Discussion Starter
Phone:02 9206 2094
Email:pcainc@palliativecare.org.au
Website:http://dyingtotalk.org.au/discussion-starter/
Description:

Supporting you to talk about how you want to be cared for at the end of your life.
You never know what the future holds. It is never too early to plan ahead. Talking now can help your family and friends in the future, and can make sure you get the kind of care that you want.

Referral Required:No

Name:Memory Problems - Information for People with Dementia and their Carers
Phone:Northern Sydney - (02) 9998 2900
Website:https://sydneynorthhealthnetwork.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/NS11699-Memory-Problems-Brochure.pdf
Description:

Dementia describes the progressive irreversible syndrome of impaired memory, intellectual function, personality and behaviour causing significant impairment in function. These symptoms are caused by disorders affecting the brain.

Referral Required:No

Name:My Aged Care
Phone:1800 200 422
Website:https://www.myagedcare.gov.au/
Description:

My Aged Care website is here to help you navigate the aged care system. It can provide you with information on aged care for yourself, a family member, friend or someone you’re caring for. You can call the My Aged Care contact centre on 1800 200 422 between 8am and 8pm on weekdays and between 10am and 2pm on Saturdays. The My Aged Care contact centre is closed on Sundays and national public holidays.

Referral Required:No

Name:NSW Elder Abuse Helpline
Phone:1800 628 221
Website:http://www.elderabusehelpline.com.au/
Description:

We offer a free service that provides information, support and referrals relating to the abuse of older people living in the community across NSW. We place the safety of the older person first. Our service is confidential and callers remain anonymous.

Referral Required:No

Name:Stepping On (free falls prevention program)
Location:Northern Sydney Local Health District
Phone:9808 9685
Email:nadia.williams@royalrehab.com.au
Website:http://www.nslhd.health.nsw.gov.au/HealthInformation/HealthPromotion/Pages/Courses/Stepping_On/SteppingOn.aspx
Description:

Stepping On is run by Northern Sydney Local Health District in conjunction with Royal Rehabilitation Centre Sydney.

The program provides participants with information on how to reduce their risk of falling and maximising independence at home. Local health professionals and invited guests present the program.

Program coordinators are health professionals with backgrounds in aged care, falls prevention and rehabilitation.

Referral Required:No

Name:Take control over the end of your life – what you need to know about advance care directives
Website:https://theconversation.com/take-control-over-the-end-of-your-life-what-you-need-to-know-about-advance-care-directives-62905
Description:

Take control over the end of your life. Advance care planning is one way to exercise control. The process involves discussing and expressing preferences about the kind of care you would or would not want in a situation where you lack the mental capacity to make decisions.

Referral Required:No