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Help staying at home

Common questions on Help staying at home

  ACAT assessments
  1. Are the ACAT assessment results explained to me straight away?
  2. Are the ACAT assessments always done at home, or can I go somewhere else if I would prefer?
  3. Are there services that give care at home without me going to the Aged Care Assessment Team first?
  4. Can I have someone with me while I'm having my ACAT assessment?
  5. Do I have to get an Aged Care Assessment done to receive help with my care at home?
  6. Do I need an assessment?
  7. How do I arrange for an ACAT assessment?
  8. How long does the ACAT appeal process take?
  9. How many people will visit me to do the ACAT assessment?
  10. I am needing more help at home. I am even thinking that I might need to move to an aged care home. Who will arrange this for me?
  11. I do not agree with the ACAT assessment of my relative. What can I do?
  12. I don't drive and I'm finding it increasingly difficult to get on the bus. How will I be able to do my banking and shopping, especially for clothing and larger items, not just groceries?
  13. I don't know whether my father can get help to stay at home or if he would be better cared for if he moved to an aged care home. How is the decision made?
  14. I don't want to talk to anyone about the things I can't do. Why do I have to have an ACAT assessment?
  15. I haven't had an Aged Care Assessment Team assessment yet. Can I still get help?
  16. Is there a cost associated with appealing against the ACAT assessment or their recommendations?
  17. What do I have to do to get ready for an ACAT assessment?
  18. What happens if I don't feel well on the day of my ACAT assessment, or if I change my mind and don't want them to come?
  19. What happens if my doctor does not agree with the ACAT assessment?
  20. What sorts of things do the ACAT people assess? What questions do they ask?

Access and eligibility
  1. How do I find a Day Therapy Centre?
  2. How do I find my local Community Health Centre?
  3. I love gardening but it's getting too much for me. Can I get help?

Active ageing
  1. How do I know how much exercise is good for me at my age?
  2. How would I know if the person I care for would benefit from allied health support?
  3. I'm fit enough physically, but now that I have retired the days seem to drag on and I feel I am getting mentally sluggish.
  4. I know I should get more exercise but I can't afford to join a fitness club.
  5. Where can I find out how to self-manage my chronic condition?

Aged care homes
  1. Can I get allied health services for mum if she is in an aged care home?
  2. How can I find out if the home I am considering has a good record of providing quality care?
  3. I am needing more help at home. I am even thinking that I might need to move to an aged care home. Who will arrange this for me?
  4. What if I'm not sure whether I need to move to an aged care home?

Allied health care, aids and equipment
  1. Are there additional costs if I swap to Telstra from my phone company to receive equipment from the Disability Equipment Program?
  2. I don't have Telstra phones, but have a disability that affects how I use the phone. Can I still get equipment to help me, or must I change over to Telstra to receive help?
  3. I live alone and am getting older. My stove is worn out and I need a new one, but I need help to understand the technology they talk about in the shops. Is there someone who can help me?
  4. Mum has had a walking frame for a few years now. It needs to have the brakes adjusted. How can I find out where to get the walking frame 'serviced'?
  5. What do I do if my phone stops working and I need to arrange Priority Assistance?
  6. Where can I get continence management equipment free or cheap?
  7. Where can I get information about equipment to help Mum manage at home now she is getting frail?
  8. Will DVA help me get safety equipment for my home?

Carers
  1. If I have to take long-term leave without pay to help my mother who is getting very frail, how will I manage financially?
  2. Is there a counselling service for carers in my area?
  3. What programs are available to help carers?

Caring for someone at home
  1. Mum lives alone and has some help from the local Council. She is supposed to have a case manager, but never hears from her and now the cleaner hasn't been for 6 weeks. What can we do?

Community care
  1. Are there services that give care at home without me going to the Aged Care Assessment Team first?
  2. Do I have to let providers into my home if I don't want their service on the day they arrive?
  3. Do you have to have an ongoing illness/problem to go to a Day Therapy Centre or can you just go to one occasionally?
  4. How do I find a Day Therapy Centre?
  5. How do I find my local Community Health Centre?
  6. How long do Extended Aged Care at Home services go for?
  7. How long do the people providing these Extended Aged Care at Home Dementia services stay in my home?
  8. I've had a bit of a spill recently and hurt my wrist. The doctor says it will be right as rain in a couple of months but in the meantime I'm having trouble with my laundry and gardening. Is there anyone who can help in the short term?
  9. I love gardening but it's getting too much for me. Can I get help?
  10. I would like to get out and about a bit more like I used to, but I don't drive now and its too hard to get on the buses. Is there someone who can help?

Complaints
  1. I'm not confident talking with people when it might be a difficult or complex conversation. Is there anyone who can support me if I have a concern about an aged care home?
  2. What do I do if I'm not happy with the care I'm receiving in an aged care home?

Cultural and identified needs
  1. Are there counselling services for veterans?
  2. Are there special services for veterans?
  3. I'm an Aboriginal person - is there a palliative care program that would suit me?
  4. I am a Torres Strait Islander person and I have recently moved to a regional town in Queensland. Can I still get help through HACC or is it only for regional and remote areas?
  5. Is palliative care available for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people?
  6. Mum is a war widow. Shecan't get on buses any more, and I live 600 kms away. How is she going to get to her medical appointments?
  7. Mum lives in a rural area. How can I get a podiatrist for her?
  8. My mother is now a war widow and is already in an age care home. Do her entitlements change and who does she need to tell? Will DVA contact her?
  9. What aged care support is available for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people?
  10. What help is there for older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people?
  11. What is the meaning of a war widow or widower?
  12. Will DVA help me get safety equipment for my home?

Culturally and linguistically diverse
  1. My mother is of a non-English speaking background and is having trouble getting the staff at the home to understand her needs and preferences. How can I help her?
  2. Will dad lose his cultural ties to his community when he goes into an aged care home?

Eligibility and standards
  1. Can I participate in the Quality Reporting process so I can provide feedback on the services I receive?
  2. How can I find out if the home I am considering has a good record of providing quality care?
  3. How do I know if I 'm eligible for any of these programs?
  4. How do I know if Mum is being treated properly by the care provider?
  5. My parents live together in an independent living unit in an aged care complex. Dad is quite frail and relies on my mum a lot. We think that he should go into an aged care home for respite to give mum a break from her caring role, but he refuses to go. What can we do?
  6. What do I do if I'm not happy with the care I'm receiving in an aged care home?
  7. What happens if my doctor does not agree with the ACAT assessment?
  8. Where can I find the Australian Government standards for community care?

Fees and costs
  1. Are there additional costs if I swap to Telstra from my phone company to receive equipment from the Disability Equipment Program?
  2. Do we have to pay for services provided by the Home and Community Care (HACC) Program?
  3. I'm not sure that I will be able to afford any form of care to assist me in my home. What can I do?
  4. I'm not sure that I will be able to afford any form of care to help me in my home. What can I do?
  5. I'm not sure that I will be able to afford any form of care. What can I do?
  6. If I'm receiving transition care will I have to contribute to the daily cost?
  7. Is there a cost associated with appealing against the ACAT assessment or their recommendations?
  8. Mum has a War Widow's pension but the home says she is not a pensioner and must pay higher fees. Is this right?
  9. Will I have to pay for a Home and Community Care service?

Financial and legal
  1. Do I still need to do a tax return if I am a resident in an aged care home?
  2. I know from arranging my husband's funeral that there are papers and things you have to have after someone dies. I want to get these ready for when I die. Where can I find a list of what I need?

For carers
  1. Because I am the only one who doesn't have a partner my brothers and sister have expected me to give up work to look after Mum now she needs a full-time carer. They don't give me much help with Mum and sometimes criticise what I am doing. This is quite difficult for me.
  2. How can I get in touch with other young people who are carers?
  3. How do I find out about services for carers?
  4. How do I get in touch with other carers?
  5. I've heard of carer support groups - what can they actually do for me?
  6. I am currently looking after my mother and am finding it a real handful on top of a full working week. Will I ever get a break!?
  7. I can't give Dad all the care he needs. Am I being selfish in suggesting he move to an aged care home?
  8. I don't drive. The Home and Community Care (HACC) people will take Dad to his medical appointments, but I need to go with him as he never remembers what the doctor says. Will they take me too?
  9. I don't have time to do all the housework at dad's as well as my own. I can't afford a commercial cleaning service. Can I get help?
  10. I need some help to shower and shave Dad - can I get it?
  11. I really need a break but Dad refuses to go into an aged care home or community house for respite care. What can I do?
  12. Is there only one carer support group in each state/territory or is there one near me?
  13. What benefits are available to me as a carer?
  14. What payments are available for carers?

Health conditions
  1. Even though I have a disability I have coped pretty well at home but now I am having trouble keeping the house clean and doing the laundry. I know other people get help with these things. How can I find out about it?
  2. I'm an Aboriginal person - is there a palliative care program that would suit me?
  3. I have complex chronic health problems. Most of the time I am reasonably well and manage at home. How can I get looked after at home at the times I am unwell?
  4. I have several chronic health problems, with quite complex medication. I am coping reasonably well otherwise, but keep getting my medication muddled up. I am thinking I might need to move to an aged care home. Is that right?
  5. I have several chronic health problems, with quite complex medication. My medication is in a Webster pack, but I often drop pills or leave them in the pack by accident. What help can I get with this?
  6. Is incontinence more common in women or men?
  7. Is palliative care available for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people?
  8. Mum has had a walking frame for a few years now. It needs to have the brakes adjusted. How can I find out where to get the walking frame 'serviced'?
  9. Mum lives alone. She manages well, but I'm worried that she might fall and need help. What can I do?
  10. Where can I find out how to self-manage my chronic condition?
  11. Where can I get continence management equipment free or cheap?
  12. Where can I get more information about Falls Prevention?
  13. Who should I call about continence management?

Home modifications and maintenance
  1. Mum uses a walking frame now. Is there help that I can get to make changes at home so she can move around more easily?

Home safety
  1. Mum lives alone. She manages well, but I'm worried that she might fall and need help. What can I do?
  2. Mum uses a walking frame now. Is there help that I can get to make changes at home so she can move around more easily?

How to access help
  1. Even though I have a disability I have coped pretty well at home but now I am having trouble keeping the house clean and doing the laundry. I know other people get help with these things. How can I find out about it?
  2. How do I get care while I am staying at home?
  3. How do I get help with depression?
  4. How do I know if I 'm eligible for any of these programs?
  5. I am starting to need a little help with everyday things at home. I know there is all of this help available but how do I find it?
  6. I don't drive and I'm finding it increasingly difficult to get on the bus. How will I be able to do my banking and shopping, especially for clothing and larger items, not just groceries?
  7. I live at home and can do most things for myself. My family give me lots of help, but I feel very guilty and depressed about taking up their time. I've always helped them. What can I do?
  8. Mum is a war widow. Shecan't get on buses any more, and I live 600 kms away. How is she going to get to her medical appointments?
  9. My husband needs help as well. Do we both qualify, or is the help only available to one of us?
  10. My parents live together in an independent living unit in an aged care complex. Dad is quite frail and relies on my mum a lot. We think that he should go into an aged care home for respite to give mum a break from her caring role, but he refuses to go. What can we do?

Independent living
  1. I live alone and am getting older. My stove is worn out and I need a new one, but I need help to understand the technology they talk about in the shops. Is there someone who can help me?
  2. Where can I get information about equipment to help Mum manage at home now she is getting frail?

Information services
  1. I have an excellent doctor who has looked after me for many years. I would be comfortable talking with her about the help that I need at home. Does my doctor know about these services or who should I talk to?
  2. What are community care services?
  3. What does a Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre do?
  4. What is the National Respite for Carers program?
  5. Where can I get information about day therapy programs?
  6. Who can provide services for me in my home?

Medications
  1. I have several chronic health problems, with quite complex medication. I am coping reasonably well otherwise, but keep getting my medication muddled up. I am thinking I might need to move to an aged care home. Is that right?
  2. I have several chronic health problems, with quite complex medication. My medication is in a Webster pack, but I often drop pills or leave them in the pack by accident. What help can I get with this?
  3. I have several chronic health problems, with quite complex medication. My medication is in a Webster pack, but I often drop pills or leave them in the pack by accident. What help can I get with this?
  4. My regular medicines are in a Webster pack, but those I use only occasionally are still in the original packaging. I'm having trouble opening the bottle or the foil packet. Who can help me with this?
  5. My regular medicines are in a Webster pack, but those I use only occasionally are still in the original packaging. I'm having trouble opening the bottle or the foil packet. Can anyone help me with this?
  6. Where can I find out how to self-manage my chronic condition?

Mental health
  1. Are people with a mental illness usually dangerous?
  2. How do I get help with depression?
  3. I'm fit enough physically, but now that I have retired the days seem to drag on and I feel I am getting mentally sluggish.
  4. I'm worried about Mum. She is losing her sense of perspective and fretting excessively about things she can't influence, like international events. What can I do?

Planning for the future
  1. How do I raise the need for care in the future with someone who is still healthy?

Programs and services
  1. Are there additional costs if I swap to Telstra from my phone company to receive equipment from the Disability Equipment Program?
  2. Can I find out more about each of these services that the Home and Community Care (HACC) Program offers? For example, meal preparation - do they come to my house to cook my dinner? And do my laundry in my washing machine?
  3. Can I get allied health services for mum if she is in an aged care home?
  4. Can I get palliative care at home?
  5. Do I have to be a certain age to qualify for Community Aged Care Package services? How old is it?
  6. Do we have to pay for services provided by the Home and Community Care (HACC) Program?
  7. Even though I have a disability I have coped pretty well at home but now I am having trouble keeping the house clean and doing the laundry. I know other people get help with these things. How can I find out about it?
  8. How can I find out about programs to help me care for someone?
  9. How can I receive services/s from the Home and Community Care (HACC) Program?
  10. How can I tell which of these programs are best suited to my needs? Is there someone who can help me?
  11. How do I arrange for the care and support to be delivered at times that suit me? Will they come on time?
  12. How do I find out about services for carers?
  13. How do I know if I 'm eligible for any of these programs?
  14. How do I know if I am eligible for a Home and Community Care service?
  15. How does the Day Therapy Centre decide what therapy I need?
  16. How will I get to and from the Day Therapy Centre?
  17. I am a Torres Strait Islander person and I have recently moved to a regional town in Queensland. Can I still get help through HACC or is it only for regional and remote areas?
  18. I do have people come in to help me, and they are very good. But sometimes it just seems that I need more help, that everything is getting too difficult. What should I do?
  19. I don't drive and I'm finding it increasingly difficult to get on the bus. How will I be able to do my banking and shopping, especially for clothing and larger items, not just groceries?
  20. I don't have Telstra phones, but have a disability that affects how I use the phone. Can I still get equipment to help me, or must I change over to Telstra to receive help?
  21. I don't have time to do all the housework at dad's as well as my own. I can't afford a commercial cleaning service. Can I get help?
  22. I have an excellent doctor who has looked after me for many years. I would be comfortable talking with her about the help that I need at home. Does my doctor know about these services or who should I talk to?
  23. I know of Day Therapy Centres, but what is Centre-based Day Care?
  24. I live at home and can do most things for myself. My family give me lots of help, but I feel very guilty and depressed about taking up their time. I've always helped them. What can I do?
  25. I need some help to shower and shave Dad - can I get it?
  26. If there are no Extended Aged Care at Home services available, or it doesn't suit me, what else can I do?
  27. Mum lives in a rural area. How can I get a podiatrist for her?
  28. Mum uses a walking frame now. Is there help that I can get to make changes at home so she can move around more easily?
  29. My husband is already getting help through a Community Aged Care Package (CACP) but he's having a tough time and I think he could do with some counselling. How can we arrange this?
  30. There are lots of little things need doing around the house but I can't quite manage to do them now. I can't afford to pay tradesmen. Is there someone who can help me?
  31. What aged care support is available for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people?
  32. What are Community Aged Care Packages?
  33. What are Extended Aged Care at Home Dementia packages?
  34. What are Extended Aged Care at Home Packages?
  35. What do I do if my phone stops working and I need to arrange Priority Assistance?
  36. What if these programs don't suit my needs? Where can I go for help?
  37. What is the Home and Community Care Program?
  38. Who provides Extended Aged Care at Home services?
  39. Will I have a choice about the activities that I would do at a Day Therapy Centre?

Rights and responsibilities
  1. How do I know if Mum is being treated properly by the care provider?
  2. Mum is in an aged care home and in the terminal stages of cancer. The home says they cannot look after her and that she has to go to hospital for treatment, but mum doesn't want to go. Can they insist?

Short-term care
  1. I am about to be discharged from hospital and need some additional support to fully recover. Who can help?
  2. I am currently looking after my mother and am finding it a real handful on top of a full working week. Will I ever get a break!?
  3. I need to arrange respite care for Dad. Who can help me?
  4. I really need a break but Dad refuses to go into an aged care home or community house for respite care. What can I do?
  5. If I'm receiving transition care will I have to contribute to the daily cost?
  6. Is respite care available in extra-service homes?
  7. My parents live together in an independent living unit in an aged care complex. Dad is quite frail and relies on my mum a lot. We think that he should go into an aged care home for respite to give mum a break from her caring role, but he refuses to go. What can we do?
  8. The doctor says I am ready to leave hospital, but I'm not sure I'll be able cope at home immediately. What can I do?
  9. What happens if I suddenly get sick?
  10. What short-term care is available through Home and Community Care?
  11. Where will the transition care be provided?

Standards and complaints
  1. Mum lives alone and has some help from the local Council. She is supposed to have a case manager, but never hears from her and now the cleaner hasn't been for 6 weeks. What can we do?

What help is available?
  1. Dad has trouble eating. Is there someone who can help him?
  2. Even though I have a disability I have coped pretty well at home but now I am having trouble keeping the house clean and doing the laundry. I know other people get help with these things. How can I find out about it?
  3. How would I know if the person I care for would benefit from allied health support?
  4. I'm finding it difficult to do the washing and ironing. I hate my clothes looking untidy. Is there any way I can get help?
  5. I am starting to need a little help with everyday things at home. I know there is all of this help available but how do I find it?
  6. I don't drive and I'm finding it increasingly difficult to get on the bus. How will I be able to do my banking and shopping, especially for clothing and larger items, not just groceries?
  7. I don't drive and I'm finding it increasingly difficult to get on the bus. How will I be able to do my banking and shopping, especially for clothing and larger items, not just groceries?
  8. I don't know whether my father can get help to stay at home or if he would be better cared for if he moved to an aged care home. How is the decision made?
  9. I find it hard to do the shopping. What can I do?
  10. I have complex chronic health problems. Most of the time I am reasonably well and manage at home. How can I get looked after at home at the times I am unwell?
  11. I have several chronic health problems, with quite complex medication. My medication is in a Webster pack, but I often drop pills or leave them in the pack by accident. What help can I get with this?
  12. I live alone and am getting older. My stove is worn out and I need a new one, but I need help to understand the technology they talk about in the shops. Is there someone who can help me?
  13. I live at home and can do most things for myself. My family give me lots of help, but I feel very guilty and depressed about taking up their time. I've always helped them. What can I do?
  14. I really can't manage at home any more. What can I do?
  15. My elderly mother has come to live with me on my farm. She needs help with showering, dressing and other personal care. I am away from the house most of the day - can we get help with these things even though we are a few hours drive from the nearest town?
  16. My grandpa is looking scruffy as he gets older because he isn't showering very often or shaving. Is there someone who can help him? How do we arrange it?
  17. There are lots of little things need doing around the house but I can't quite manage to do them now. I can't afford to pay tradesmen. Is there someone who can help me?
  18. What help is there for older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people?
  19. What if I'm not sure whether I need to move to an aged care home?

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