Support services for seniors

To access CHSP services provided by Council or other organisation you can:

• Visit the My Aged Care website
• Call the My Aged Care contact centre on 1800 200 422
• Visit any Services Australia service centre
• Call 1800 227 475 to book an in person appointment with an Aged Care Specialist Officer for further information on how to access services.

You will need an assessment and referral through My Aged Care to access any CHSP service.

Referrals

• You can apply for an assessment or yourself
• You can complete the application on behalf of a family member or friend

• A health care professional can provide a referral

My Aged Care will require your direct consent to accept information from your representative.

Fees

Fees are set by the service provider and are based on:

• The service type and amount you require.
• Your income.
• Your capacity to pay (services will still be offered even if you are assessed as financially disadvantaged and having no capacity to pay).

Next steps

1. My Aged Care determine if you are eligible for an assessment and arrange for a referral for assessment to either Council’s Regional Assessment Service, or an Aged Care Assessment Service. You and your assessor will agree on which services you will be referred to.
2. After the referral is received by any CHSP service provider through My Aged Care, you will be contacted by that provider who may also arrange a visit at home to talk about your needs and goals and set up your service agreement, which will include discussion about fees and details of the service/s to be provided.

The Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) offers a range of other services to support people to remain living independently in their own home and community. Other services which may be provided by other organisations across the City of Maroondah include:

Domestic assistance

Help for people to complete essential household activities such as basic cleaning, shopping (from a list) or basic meal preparation.

Personal care

Provides help with a range of basic self-care tasks, such as showering, dressing and grooming.

Social support (individuals)

Accompanied activities, such as helping people with their essential shopping or attending appointments.

Respite care

Supporting both client and carers by enabling carers to have a break from their caring role, while clients can be supported to engage in activities they enjoy.

Transport

Individual, door to door car transport to and from appointments

Nursing

Short term or episodic nursing treatment and monitoring of medically diagnosed clinical conditions to support people to remain living safely at home.

Allied health and therapy services

Other allied health services such as podiatry, physiotherapy groups, speech pathology, psychology, social work, exercise physiology,

Assistance with care and housing

For people who are at risk of homelessness,

Property maintenance

Assistance with minor basic home maintenance tasks such as:

• changing tap washers
• window and gutter cleaning
• changing smoke alarm batteries
• changing light bulbs
• home modifications.

The program provides minor modifications to your home that do not require a qualified tradesman, such as installing banisters and rails, so that you can continue to live and move safely about the house. Note: Home Modifications service may first require referral to an Occupational Therapist.

Visit the My Aged Care website for further information and how to apply for these services.