The Home and Community Care Program for Younger People (HACC PYP) provides services for younger people with disabilities and their carers.
Younger people are defined as those aged under 65 and aged under 50 for Aboriginal people. Some of these clients will transfer to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) as it rolls out in Gannawarra Shire in 2019.
HACC PYP services provide basic support and maintenance to people living at home to help avoid premature or inappropriate admission to long-term residential care. The HACC Program for Younger People is funded and managed by the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services.
Local governments also make significant contributions. Fees paid by people who use HACC PYP services also contribute to the program’s resources.
To find out more about the HACC PYP program, please visit the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services or email hacc@dhhs.vic.gov.au
You can also call Council’s Community Care Team on 03 5450 9333.
An assessment is the gateway to HACC PYP services and establishes the expectations and understandings of the client, and their carer and sets up the initial pathway through the service system.
Our assessment approach aims to build on client and carer strengths and abilities with a focus on improving their quality of life, social participation and functional capacity.
All clients receive a Living at Home assessment, which is a holistic person centred assessment, conducted by a health professional. The Community Care Team prides itself on the collaborative partnership it has with local and regional health services.
The assessment process develops and identifies what’s important to and for clients to remain living independently at home. The Assessment Officer can also discuss alternative options and assist with referrals to other programs that may be able to further assist you or be more appropriate to meet your needs. In some circumstances, short term, time-limited services may be provided to customers who are ineligible for ongoing support.
The assessment process includes the client and, if required, their carer or other persons as appropriate
A fee is charged for each service according to the HACC PYP Program Fees Policy. The fee is established with the client at the time of assessment.
Please see below a list of services provided. Click on each box for more information.
Domestic care
This service provides assistance with house cleaning to support clients and carers to maintain a comfortable home environment.
The domestic care service undertakes a range of essential cleaning tasks of areas regularly used by the client. These areas include:
- Bathrooms
- Toilets
- Kitchens
- Living rooms
- Bedrooms
Workers may be assigned to perform tasks such as:
- Mopping
- Vacuuming
- Changing bed linen
- Clothes washing
- Essential ironing
Personal care
Our personal care service enables clients to live independently by assisting with personal tasks that they are unable to perform on their own. These tasks may include:
- Assistance with showering
- Dressing or grooming
- Assistance with mobility
- Assistance with food preparation, and
- Shopping
Unfortunately, our staff are not able to assist with the dressing of wounds. If this type of care is required, your District Nurse should be contacted.
Respite care
Our respite service supports the caring relationship by providing carers of frail older people and people of any age with a disability, with a break from their caring responsibilities.
Our service also provides the opportunity for the person being cared for to have a break, or go on an outing without their usual carer.
Respite may be arranged:
- On a regular planned basis
- For a one-off emergency situation, or
- For a short-term period, where there is a change in the caring relationship, such as the illness of a carer
This service can be provided in a variety of ways and in a range of locations, including:
- The consumer’s home
- On a one-to-one basis, or
- In the community where clients can participate in individual or community activities with the support of our staff.
Planned outings for clients may include visits to the Echuca Swimming Pool, Kerang Bowling Alley or bus excursions.
In all cases we aim to provide enjoyable, age appropriate, meaning activities for our clients.
Property maintenance
Our property maintenance service provides assistance with the maintenance and repair of your home, garden or yard to maintain the home in a safe and habitable condition.
The types of maintenance available are:
- General maintenance
- Garden and lawn maintenance
- Access and safety
- Installation of safety rails
- Smoke detector checks
- Light bulb replacements
- Installation key safes
- Improvements to paths and steps
- Some anti-slip measures
- Preventative maintenance
- Minor maintenance and repairs
- Low maintenance gardens
- Minor fence repairs
- Repairs to fly wire screens
- Climate change initiatives
Frequency of service:
Our regular clients receive their service every four weeks. Occasional clients only receive this service as required.
Delivered meals
Delivered by our wonderful team of volunteers, this service provides a healthy, well balanced midday meal to eligible residents, within Kerang and Cohuna, five days per week.
There is also the option of additional weekend meals, delivered frozen on a day that is suitable for the client.
Frozen meals can also be arranged for clients living outside the Kerang and Cohuna areas.
Your rights:
- The right to respect for your individual human worth, dignity and privacy.
- The right to be assessed for access to services without discrimination.
- The right to receive a HACC PYP service where you are eligible, regardless of your capacity to pay.
- The right to pursue any complaint about service provision without the fear of retribution.
- The right to involve an advocate of your choice.
- The right to knowledge about and access to information of processes, both internal and external, for handling complaints.
Your responsibilities:
- To respect the dignity and rights of persons providing the services.
- To respect the dignity and rights of other clients.
- To take responsibility for the results of the decisions you make.
- To cooperate with the service provider in the provision of your services.
- To inform your service provider of any complaints you may have with the service.
For more information, phone (03) 5450 9333 or visit http://www.health.gov.au/