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What's on this page:
>> Services available in the home
>> Services available outside the home
>> How do I find services?
>> Residential aged care
>> Steps to residential care
>> Important telephone numbers
>> Useful websites
If your ability to manage in your home is affected by health issues, age and/or a disability, there are services and agencies available to support you.
Often a hospital admission can mean a change in a person's level of independence or ability to manage tasks such as cleaning, laundry, meals, ability to shower oneself or wound care. There is often a need for a person to receive services in the home to help with these issues to support their independence.
Services are available to help a person's independence for a short time after discharge, or if there has been a significant change following a health crisis or gradual deterioration then services can be ongoing to help the person continue to live in their community.
| Domestic Assistance | Household jobs like cleaning, laundry, vacuuming |
| Personal Care | Help with showering, bathing, dressing, and toileting |
| Home Maintenance | General repair and care of a client's home |
| Home Modification | Installation of safety aids such as alarms and rails in your home. For further information refer to Home Assist Website (external site) |
| Community Nursing | Qualified nurses who visit you in your home to provide care such as wound dressing, continence advice and monitoring your medication |
| Meals | This can include either meals-on-wheels or assistance in shopping for food. |
| In-home respite | A worker can remain home with the person needing care, so their carer can have some time-off. |
| Day respite | Supports the carer by offering the person needing care access to activity based day respite, often transport can be provided to and from home, lunch is provided and is a good opportunity for social interaction. |
| Residential Respite | Accessible in Residential Care Facilities once you have an Aged Care Assessment Service (ACAS) approval. You can access up to nine weeks of residential respite a year. |
| Community Transport | Volunteers through non-government organisations may be able to assist you with transport to non-urgent medical appointments, shopping and social activities. |
| Support Groups |
There are various groups available through Community Health Centres and The Prince Charles Hospital. The groups can be either for Carers or for the person with a health issue to provide support and an opportunity for you to share your experience and gain support from others. |
Speak with your social worker regarding services available on discharge from hospital and which community organisations can provide additional support. Referrals to service providers will be made by the team prior to discharge.
The Transition Care Program is available on discharge for up to 12 weeks of slow-stream rehabilitation and in-home support - you will need to discuss with the social worker whether you are eligible for this service.
Services are available through Home and Community Care program which are provided by your local Community Health Centre and also non-government organisations. Click here for the HACC service directory for Brisbane North (external site).
If you are in the community and are requiring assistance, you can contact your local Community Health Centre directly.
You can also access services through the Aged Care Assessment Service which are attached to your local Community Health Centre.
The Aged Care Assessment Service (or Team) - ACAS - is a Commonwealth service and provide assessments for access to Residential Aged Care and packages of care in the home. These packages of care are named:
EACH D – Extended Aged Care at Home Dementia (external site)
Residential care is considered an option for a persons care when services in the community have been tried and they are not sufficient to:
Your social worker can discuss this with you further as moving into residential care is a significant decision.
Within the hospital, your Social Worker will work with the patient and family and facilitate the process of moving into residential care, and provide counselling support on the emotions that are experienced with this decision.
As a general guideline, the following steps are involved in seeking residential care. You can download the booklet '5-Step Entry to Residential Care' (external site) for more information.
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