Aged care services in Southern NSW

My Aged Care can help if you need extra support at home to improve your wellbeing and remain as independent as possible, or if you're caring for an elderly relative or friend. 

The My Aged Care Assessment Service can help you:

• arrange for a trained assessor to come to your home and assess your care needs and eligibility for services.
• develop an individual support plan to meet your needs and goals. 
• short-term help while you're recovering after an accident or illness and/or when you've had a set-back.
• support at home, like personal care, transport, meals, and assistance with household jobs.
• access care in an aged care home.

For more trusted information visit the My Aged Care website or call 1800 200 422.  

The CHSP assists older people to remain living at home and in the community. The services may be short-term, provided in intervals, or ongoing. 

The program focuses on supporting the person's independence and considers individual needs and choices. 

Eligibility

• people aged 65 years or over (or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 50 years and over)
• people aged 50 years or over (or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 45 years and over) on a low income and homeless, and/or at risk of being homeless. 

Eligibility for the CHSP is based on your support needs and age. An assessment through the My Aged Care Assessment Service can help decide if you are eligible for the program, including any specific services. 

For more information about the assessment service visit the My Aged Care website or call 1800 200 422.  

CHSP services available in Southern NSW

Southern NSW is a CHSP provider. We support eligible people with these services:

• community nursing
• occupational therapy
• physiotherapy. 

Cost

CHSP services are subsidised by the Australian Government. 

It is important to know that no one will be excluded from the program, because they are unable to pay. 

There is no cost to people receiving community nursing or allied health services in Southern NSW. However, people are encouraged to make a contribution or donation toward the cost of services they receive. 

Find about more about Commonwealth Home Support Program.

The TACP supports older people to recover at home after being in hospital. It provides therapy support and services to help you be as independent as possible. 

The program starts from the day you leave hospital. Depending on your needs, support can be provided for up to 12 weeks. 

In this time, a case manager and a team of health professionals will help with your recovery and get back to what is important to you.

The TACP offers:

• nursing support
• short term equipment loan 
• carer support and in-home respite
• allied health support, like physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech pathology, nutrition and dietetics, and social work.
• help with cleaning, shopping, transport, showering, and meal preparation.

videocam 3:05

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Video transcript

What is the Transitional Aged Care Program (TACP)?

[Music]

Graham Walker

When you're lying there in the first week or two you think, that's your life, you know, that that's going to be your life lying in bed trying to ease the pain.

[On -screen text: Graham had surgery and was recovering in hospital. He needed support to get better. He wasn't sure he's get back to the things that matter to him.]

By the end of the program, I was totally optimistic that I could get back to nearly normal.

[Music]

Rosie Scott - TACP Coordinator

TACP is the Transitional Aged Care Program. It's a community-based service to help people recover after they've been in hospital.

[On -screen text: Recover from home and increase your independence.] 

The overarching goal is to try and maximize the independence of clients living in their own home.

Pete McCarthy - Allied Health Assistant

As opposed to being in hospital, which is quite regimented, you go to your own place where you're the boss.

Joe Ralph

Hospitals are the pits, I don't even like their food so any chance of getting out of there you jump at that.

[On -screen text: get support for up to 12 weeks]

Rosie Scott - TACP Coordinator

So the program starts from the day that someone is discharged from hospital and it can run for up to 12 weeks if they need us for that long.

[On -screen text: Focus on what's important to you]

The important thing with our program is that it's a really goal focused program.

Pete McCarthy - Allied Health Assistant

We'll have the initial assessment by the coordinator and then we'll have a case manager assigned to the clients.

Graham Walker

When the pain was under control, the case managers say well, you know, what do you want to do? and I'll pass that on to the team so that your treatment is appropriate. That atmosphere certainly helped in my recovery.

[On -screen text: Recover with the help of a professional team]

Rosie Scott - TACP Coordinator

Through our service we have access to an Allied Health team so a physiotherapist, occupational therapist, speech pathologists, dietitians, a registered nurse social workers and Allied Health assistants. We also use a provider for Home Care Services they can assist our clients with things like cleaning, shopping, transport to appointments and personal care assistance.

Joe Ralph

You cannot, cannot get by without some sort of support. The option has to be there.

[On -screen text: Get back to your new normal]

[Music]

Graham Walker

You would be very lucky to be offered a place on the program. For me it made all the difference. I was restored very close to my original condition, because of the great work of the team.

Rosie Scott - TACP Coordinator

We have had a fellow, his goals were around returning to swimming, returning to driving, returning to golf. He's now back to driving, he can play golf, he goes swimming down at the beach and he does that all with the prosthesis on.

Pete McCarthy - Allied Health Assistant

You get much better outcomes this way. People have a feeling of Independence and autonomy.

Rosie Scott - TACP Coordinator

So if you're wanting to live at home and be as independent as you can be, then this is the program for you.

[Music]

[On -screen text: Transitional Aged Care Program. Find out more.]

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Eligibility

People aged 65 years and over (or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 50 years and over) can check if they are eligible for the TACP while in hospital.

With your consent, we can arrange for an Aged Care Assessment Program (ACAP) during your hospital stay. The outcome of the assessment will decide if you can access the program. 

Cost

The TACP costs up to 17.5% (maximum) of the daily rate of the current single aged pension.

It is important to know that no one will be excluded from the program, even if they are unable to pay. 

A TACP coordinator will discuss the fees with you before you join the program. They will answer any questions or concerns.

Key contacts

There are five TACP teams located across Southern NSW LHD. 

We can provide you with specific and practical information to help you manage your longstanding conditions, including:

• nursing services
• allied health services - like physiotherapy, occupational therapy, social work services, and nutrition and dietetics.
• support with aspects of your health - like quitting smoking, healthy eating, and activity levels. 
• link you with other services - like My Aged Care, Carers Australia, and other local community services. 

After an in-depth assessment, the health professional from one of the teams will work with your GP or doctor and medical specialist to make sure your care is coordinated and meets your needs. In addition, our chronic disease management services can help with:

• diabetes education and management
• quit smoking - encouragement, resources and support to help smokers quit.
• falls prevention - education and exercise programs to reduce or prevent falls.
• heart (cardiac) rehabilitation services - to help with your recovery after a heart event or surgery.
• lung (respiratory) rehabilitation services - to help manage your lung condition, breathing, and daily activities.
• healthy living - support and motivation to make lifestyle changes and improve your health.  
• My Aged Care assessment service - assessment and linking to aged care support and services.

Our nursing and allied health professionals can also work with your GP or doctor or medical specialist to help you recover after a hospital stay or surgery.

Following your assessment, if needed, the health professional may recommend a referral to the Out of Hospital Care Program for some additional help at home to support you during your recovery.

For general enquiries, referrals or more information, contact the Community Health Central Intake Service  at 1800 999 880 or email SNSWLHD-CommunityIntake@health.nsw.gov.au

• Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) toolkit
• The Charter of Aged Care Rights (video)
• NSW Health Privacy Leaflet for Patients
• Serious Incident Response Scheme
  ^{(information for home services care recipients)}
• Do you have a concern or complaint about aged care services?
  ^{(this information is available in multiple languages)}
• What the Aged Care Quality Standards mean for you (video)
  ^{(this video is available in multiple languages)}