Care at Home

SOUTHERN CROSS CARE (VIC) CARING FOR THE MOST IMPORTANT PEOPLE IN THE WORLD

At Southern Cross Care (Vic), we offer extra assistance so older people can continue living in their own homes as safely and independently as possible.

This might involve assistance with cleaning, cooking, showering, personal hygiene, assistance with dressing or grooming, gardening, transport to appointments, assistance with shopping, reminders to take medication, companionship, social activities, after-hours care or in-home respite care. We also provide respite care (day and overnight) to provide extra support for carers.

These services, available across metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria, are tailored to meet your needs and can be varied as your needs change.

Community Care Packages offer three levels of support, facilitated by case management, based on each person’s needs:

Low levels of care and support, or what is known as a Community Aged Care Package (CACP)
Higher levels of care for people who might otherwise move to a nursing home, allowing them to remain at home, known as Extended Aged Care at Home (EACH)
Extensive care to allow older people living with dementia to remain in their familiar home environment, and support for their families and carers, known as Extended Aged Care at Home Dementia (EACHD)

Some packages allow for what the Government calls 'Consumer Directed Care' – where the client has greater flexibility to choose services that can be tailored to suit their individual needs and lifestyle.

To be eligible for any of these care packages, you will need to be assessed by Aged Care Assessment Services (ACAS). This free service will help identify the care and support that best meets your needs. Your doctor can arrange a referral or you can contact ACAS yourself. For a list of ACAS services, click here

Additional Support Services for those living at home

As well as Community Care Packages, SCC (Vic) provides extra in-home support with things like showering, dressing and mobility, cooking, ironing, shopping and bill paying, transport to medical appointments or community activities, respite or overnight care and help with rehabilitation and exercise programs.

Known as Community Support Services, these fee paying services can be used in addition to services provided by a care package, as a one-off arrangement or as an ongoing service.

Nursing Services for those living at home

If your support needs are more complex, and a higher level of care is required, SCC (Vic) also offers an in-home nursing service. Our Community Nursing Service works in partnership with you and your health practitioners to identify your health care needs and ensure you achieve your best possible health goals.

For further information on Community Nursing, please click here.

Home Inspection Service

According to home inspection company, Archicentre, falls by older people account for the majority of home injuries.

To help counteract this, Archicentre, in partnership with the Victorian Government, provides a free home inspection service for aged pensioners and disabled people and their carers.

An architect from Archicentre Home Services is available to inspect your home and provide a written report detailing any issues and the predicted cost involved in repairs, etc. This will help to avoid being overcharged or billed for unnecessary work.

To book a Safe and Sound inspection, contact Archicentre on 1300 136 513.

Multilingual Resources

For information on multilingual resources in aged care, please click here.