Changes to Community Services - From 1st July 2015

To remain living in the family home, and to retain a sense of independence with home comforts and familiarity, is central to many people’s wellbeing.

This is why Southern Cross Care (SA&NT) provides home care services among the many other services and programs into the broader community. They ensure people who need help with personal care and general support to maintain a comfortable living environment at their own home, are supported to remain in their own home for as long as possible.

Andrew Larpent, CEO SCC (SA&NT), says “We support people in our community with simple domestic tasks such as cleaning, laundry, gardening, maintenance and meal preparation, to getting out and about via transport to shop, to more complex assistance such as medication management, physiotherapy, and programs to keep you healthy, active and motivated.”

SCC (SA&NT) has been providing the home care service for almost 700 customers in the Northern Territory and South Australia and until now it has been known as Home Support Services.

Southern Cross Care services are based on a philosophy of connected living where the personal needs of every individual, their health, their wellbeing, their comfort, their families, their friends and their communities are important.

It means offering people the help they need to enjoy the best possible quality of life in a place that they call home.

From July 2015, due to some government regulation changes, the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) will be the entry level of Australia’s aged care system for older people who need assistance with daily living to remain living independently at home.

The CHSP brings together four programs:

1. Commonwealth Home and Community Care (HACC) Program
2. Planned respite from the National Respite for Carers Program (NRCP)
3. Day Therapy Centres (DTC) Program
4. Assistance with Care and Housing for the Aged (ACHA) Program.

The CHSP benefits older people and carers through:

1. streamlined access to entry-level support services
2. a standardised national assessment process and entry point through My Aged Care
3. increased focus on restorative approach including wellness and reablement
4. promoting equity and sustainability through a nationally consistent fees policy
5. reducing red-tape for service providers through more streamlined funding arrangements.

Southern Cross Care's current services comply with these new regulations and for the vast majority of people there was no change in their weekly plan at all.

It is a good time to reflect on your own needs.

Southern Cross Care encourage people in the community, who may be struggling with home tasks, who may be anxious about their ability to cope at home, or feel their health is starting to suffer because of it, to come along to an information session and hear what the changes are and how you may be able to access our services.

Your independence and wellbeing are of the utmost importance to us and SCC will continue to work with you to ensure your services are best tailored to meet your needs.

All eligible people receive services at a rate subsidized by the government to help them remain in their own homes for as long as possible. These funds come through the Department of Health and Ageing. The amount of subsidy you receive depends on your level of care need and income.

Information Session: Goolwa 16^th June 2015

Southern Cross Care Community Services
1 Wildman Street, Goolwa

For bookings, please phone 08 8550 8015