Aged and Community Support

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Helping older people stay active, involved and doing as much for themselves as possible is proven to help independence and wellbeing. Monash Council provides a number of services and programs to help older people in their home.

Commonwealth Home Support Program

People aged 65 and over (over 50 for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people) and their carers can get support to keep living independently at home. 

Monash Council is funded by the Federal Government to provide services under the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP). These services include:

  • Personal Care - providing frail, older people with support to safely attend to all showering, grooming and hygiene needs.
  • Meals - providing frail, older people with access to pre-made meals and informal health monitoring.
  • Domestic Assistance - working with frail, older people to help maintain independence and to provide support with basic chores around the house, including vacuuming, mopping and cleaning bathrooms.
  • Home Maintenance - including annual gutter and spring cleans, changing smoke alarm batteries and small home repairs, for example, fixing door hinges and locks.
  • Home Modifications - making changes to the home to improve safety and access, for example, installing ramps, handrails and smoke alarms.
  • Occupational Therapy – aiming to improve client safety and independence at home through prescribed equipment, minor home modifications and alternative ways of performing daily tasks.   
  • Respite Care - providing in-home support to allow the carer to take a break. 

 

Monash Meals on Wheels - food is delivered to homes by Monash Volunteers. The client can nominate the number of meals they would like for a week and can have these delivered when required. Delivery days are Monday, Wednesday and Friday, these meals are provided by Lite n easy and are delivered frozen.

All CHSP programme services and programs are subject to eligibility screeningassessment and availability as supported by the Australian Government Department of Health. 

If you are aged 65 or over and have not accessed the programme before, phone My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 or visit www.myagedcare.gov.au to arrange an assessment. The assessment is done in your home, and a family member, friend, advocate or health professional can be present. The assessment process will determine eligibility for service.

All services require an Occupational Health and Safety check of your home. Services are subsidised but a fee does apply.

Wellness Approach

The wellness approach, which we call “BeWell at Home”, encourages clients and care workers to work together. Care workers are trained to work with the client’s goals and to maintain client’s independence. The phrase “use it or lose it” is a strong theme here as we want all clients to maintain their independence and be as active as possible.

To find out more, please read the newsletters below: 

Be Well News - December 2023(PDF, 3MB)

Be Well News - August 2023(PDF, 2MB)

Be Well News - April 2023(PDF, 2MB)

Be Well News - December 2022(PDF, 4MB)

Be Well News - August 2022(PDF, 3MB)

BeWell News - April 2022(PDF, 5MB)

BeWell News - December 2021(PDF, 4MB)

Acknowledgement

Supported by the Australian Government Department of Health.

Disclaimer

Although funding for this Commonwealth Home Support Programme has been provided by the Australian Government, the material contained herein does not necessarily represent the views or policies of the Australian Government.

Programme FAQs

What if I need to cancel a service?

To cancel a service, you must give 24 hours’ notice. If you’re feeling unwell or unable to have a service attend, phone 9518 3553 to discuss your situation. Monash Council reserves the right to charge clients for any services cancelled within 24 hours of an appointment.

How do I find out the time of my next appointment/ service?

Phone us on 9518 3553.

Do services still run on a public holiday?

Showering support is provided on public holidays except Christmas Day and Easter Saturday. All other regular services don't run on public holidays. Monash Meals clients will be notified when their meals will be delivered.

What products or equipment are used for domestic assistance?

We require clients to have approved, non-hazardous cleaning products and a lightweight mop and bucket prior to starting this service. This is discussed with the client on the first visit and a list is supplied in the welcome pack. If you need a replacement list, please phone 9518 3553.

Activities for Older People

Monash Council also provides the Positive Ageing Lifestyle Program (PALS), which offers free or low-cost activities for people aged over 60. For more information, see Positive Ageing Lifestyle Services PALS.

If you need help with accessibility or support services for someone with a disability, visit Disability Services.

More Information

For more information on aged-care rights, advocacy and privacy, go to Aged and Community Support information.