Care at HomeÂ
Post-Acute Care
Post-Acute Care is a State Government-funded program for people recently discharged from the hospital who require short-term care at home to help them recover.
Where another program was providing support before the hospital episode, these services are expected to resume on discharge.
A variety of care at home services can be arranged and funded for a short period, such as:
- nursing
- showering assistance
- domestic assistance (e.g. home cleaning)
- in-home respite
- occupational therapy
- physiotherapy.
A Post-Acute Care Coordinator will assess, arrange and monitor a personalised care plan for you that considers your individual and clinical requirements. The length of the program is generally four days for nursing services and up to four weeks for other personal care type services (e.g. showering assistance).
While Allied health services are capped at a maximum of two care at home visits, your Post-Acute Care Coordinator will liaise with agencies that can provide longer-term services (e.g. local council) and make referrals to other agencies if needed.
All Post-Acute Care Services are free of charge. Contact us to learn more.Â
Complex Care/HARP
The Complex Care/HARP (Hospital Admission Risk Program) provides support to people with chronic disease, those who are aged and/or have complex needs (including psychiatric disability or mental health issues) and people who frequently use hospitals or are at risk of unplanned hospitalisation.
The key objectives of Complex Care/HARP are to:
- Improve patient outcomes
- Provide integrated, seamless care within and across hospital and community sectors
- Reduce avoidable hospital admissions and emergency department presentations
- Ensure equitable access to healthcare
The service is staffed by community nurses and social workers, who work closely with other allied health staff to provide patient-centred care coordination, education and self-management support.
This service has no fee; however, our team may recommend programs, services and equipment that may attract a fee. There is no obligation to accept any of these recommended programs.
Contact us to learn more about this service.Â
District Nursing Service
Our District Nursing service is staffed by experienced and professional registered nurses who coordinate care with your local GP and allied health professionals to provide comprehensive and compassionate nursing care at home. This service is available for anyone living in the Mount Alexander Shire.
This service provides advice, education and support to encourage self-management and independence. Our focus is helping maintain independence while delivering the best clinical care to suit your needs.
A nursing assessment will be conducted to identify your needs and the ability of the district nursing team to meet those needs. With your consent, our nurses will help connect you to services you may require to address more specific issues.
Our service is available to any community member of any age who requires nursing assistance to manage their healthcare needs. We also deliver services to National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participants, Home Care Package holders, Transport Accident Commission (TAC) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA).
Anyone can be referred to our District Nursing Services, and self-referrals, including those from carers, are welcome. Alternatively, your GP, medical practitioner, treating hospital, or allied health professional can refer you to the District Nursing Service.
We will contact you once your referral is received to organise an appointment. Anyone over 65 years or for ATSI must have a My Aged Care active client record. You can access Australian aged care information and services at My Aged Care. The Charter of Aged Care Rights applies to District Nursing clients who are funded under the Commonwealth Home Support Programme. We acknowledge the support of the Australian and Victorian Governments.
Please note that referrals are prioritised, and visits are scheduled according to urgency and client needs. You must agree to any referral on your behalf. Please let us know as soon as possible if you need to change or cancel a scheduled appointment. A GP or specialist doctor’s health summary should be provided with the referral and emailed to District Nursing.Â
Please phone our office on +613 5471 3555 if you have any questions about eligibility for our service.
