Community Health News – Dec ’16

Letter to clients with a home care approval

Until mid-December the Department of Health was sending tailored letters in stages to clients with an existing approval for home care.

The letters are about what the changes to home care packages will mean to individual clients and their situation.

Clients may take action depending on whether they are:

• receiving care at their approved level – to raise their awareness of the home care reforms and that they can change providers from 27 February if they want to (no action required)
• receiving care at an interim level – to re-assure them that they will continue to receive home care services at the current level and will be automatically placed on the national priority queue for their approved level (unless they notify My Aged Care otherwise)
• approved but not yet receiving care – to advise them that their home care approval will move from a broad-banded level to specific level 1,2,3 or 4. Depending on whether the client holds either a recent or historic (pre 1 July 2016) home care approval, they may be automatically moved onto the national prioritisation queue on 27 February, or required to call My Aged Care to confirm their intention to continue seeking home care services.

A fact sheet has been developed to support providers to explain the changes to clients who may contact them after receiving their letter.

View or download the fact sheet Supporting Client Discussions.

A range of other support materials for consumers and providers about the changes are available on the department’s website.

New resources to help consumers when buying goods and services through the NDIS

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has released guidance to empower people with disability to use their consumer rights when buying goods and services under the new National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

To prepare consumers and businesses, a range of resources have been released, including videos, fact sheets, industry guidance and an easy English consumer guide which outline the rights and obligations of consumers and businesses in the disability sector. The resources have been developed with the support of the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) and in consultation with disability support organisations, disability advocates and disability complaint bodies.

CLICK HERE for Your consumer rights: a guide for consumers with disability
CLICK HERE for a fact sheet with information for consumers with disability
CLICK HERE to view Smart shopping with Casey and Reece – an educational video for consumers with disability (Easy English)
CLICK HERE to view Shop smart and use your rights – an educational video for consumers with disability.

The videos are also available in AUSLAN.

Online Education Program to Help Carers Navigate Respite System

Carers of people with dementia are being encouraged to participate in a new online education program which includes goal setting and motivation building activities to help them overcome common barriers to using respite.
This new, innovative research project will explore the most effective way of providing education and support for carers of people living with dementia to use respite. The free online program will help carers to:

• Work towards their personal goals
• Learn more about respite services and strategies
• Understand and navigate the respite services system.

Who can be involved?

Carers of people with dementia who have an interest in learning more about respite services and strategies. Participants also need access to the internet and basic internet experience.

What is involved?

• Completing 2 x 20 minute online surveys and up to 10 x 1 hour weekly online sessions at a time convenient to you.
• Goal setting and motivation building activities, as well as information about respite services and strategies.
• Your program may also include coaching and peer support in an online forum.

CLICK HERE for more information or contact Dr Liz Cridland via email liz_cridland@uow.edu.au or phone: 02 4221 4226.

Free national helpline to support parents

Pregnancy, Birth and Baby is a free Australian Government service providing you with direct access to maternal child health nurses on your journey from pregnancy to preschool.

Expecting parents can speak to a maternal child health nurse about the baby’s growth and development or for support if there are any concerns or issues during pregnancy.

Our maternal child health nurses can also offer parents practical tips to overcome challenges such as settling and sleeping, tantrums, and feeding.

Being a parent can be challenging or overwhelming at times, but it’s reassuring to know there is expert help and support available from the comfort of your own home, 7 days a week.

Free call: 1800 882 436