Each day Australians all over the country get up, get washed, dressed, have breakfast and get on with their day without giving a second thought. They involve planning, and be they energetic or otherwise, they need the hands of another person to be steady.
It’s here that assistance is of great value in the daily activities. It isn’t the duty to do everything for someone. Support is about giving the right kind of support at the right time so that a person can be able to carry out their life on his/her own terms.
If you are thinking about personal care for yourself, an older person, a child with a disability, or a partner who has recently had surgery, you may be wondering what personal care is like in Australia, whether people are able to access it, how it is funded and who you can trust to provide your personal care.
How to Support the Completion of Self-Care Routines.
Self-care activities are those activities that we can undertake without being aware of. If somebody supports you, some or all of these will be assisted by a trained worker, depending on what you need and what you want. This might be a quiet word of encouragement, an arm of comfort or an assist by hand.
Common Tasks Include:
- Showing/bathing and personal hygiene | learning area
- Clothing, putting on/off clothes and appropriate clothing for different weather conditions
- Taking care of oneself, including brushing teeth, hair care and shaving.
- Toileting and continence needs
- Preparing for meals and snacks and setting the table, helping with eating and drinking.
- Safe transfer to bed, chair and shower to and from chair.
- Medication prompts and reminders – If your plan allows and/or your provider policy allows, set up medication prompts and reminders.
It’s best if it’s all flexible support. They will be able to wash safely on Monday and Thursday mornings only with the assistance of one worker. One or more may need some help getting to bed and waking up early. The other way around – the routine should be created with the roster in mind!
The Dignity of Service Is What Good Care Looks Like.
Good support is about how it feels; it’s not just about what happens. A good worker will knock first, have a discussion with you about what he’s going to do before he does, provide options (towel, order, shirt) and let you do what you can do yourself.
This is commonly known as strengths-based or person-centred support, and is at the core of disability and aged care in Australia.
The emotional significance is paramount, but it’s also useful. There is often a good intention to ‘help ‘, but it can take away strength, balance and confidence and doing part of it gives them strength, balance and confidence.
Which Children Get Additional Support? People Are Everywhere and Far More Numerous Than You Would Imagine.
This support can be offered to anyone whose life is affected by a disability, age or illness/injury and includes:
- Persons with physical, intellectual, sensory and/or psychosocial disability
- People aged 65 and over preferring to remain at home for as long as possible.
- The recovery of wounds or surgical procedures of patients, hospital inpatient and outpatient care, recovery after accidents, etc.
- Individuals with certain illnesses such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, arthritis or dementia,
- Individuals who are veterans and/or their partners and require additional support in their home.
This is also to benefit family carers. Bathing the parent may also impact the parent/child relationship, perhaps not the desired relationship for the adult child. Professional support will not only help you to regain your identity as a son, daughter or partner, but also not a 24/7 carer.
Who Pays the Bill? The Funding Mechanisms Across Australia
Funding is based on your age, situation and objectives. Main pathways are:
NDIS
If you are eligible, the NDIS lists self-care support as a part of NDIS Core Supports, Assistance with Daily Life support category. The support has to be reasonable, necessary and included within your plan.
Depending on the day of the week, evening, overnight and weekend services, and the day of the week (and evening, overnight and weekend) that public holiday services are provided, and the type of plan (agency-managed, plan-managed or self-managed), the services provided vary from one provider to another.
Aged Care
Individuals aged 65 years (or 50 years for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people) are usually assessed through an assessment process with My Aged Care before starting. In-home personal care may be available through government-funded programs such as Support at Home, and depends upon your situation.
Veterans
In-home support to eligible Veterans and their families is provided by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
Employed and Personal Alternatives
Following the injury, workers’ compensation, State transport accident schemes or private schemes may provide funding for care without a need for assessment.
Please note that details of the program and amount of funding will differ depending on the rules and should be checked with the NDIS, My Aged Care or registered providers prior to agreeing to a program.
Where Do I Start? To a Confirmed Roster: Your First 6 Steps
- Name hard parts. Record what tasks are challenging and when in the day. A full picture will be provided by your GP/OT.
- Get assessed. Plan for a NDIS planning meeting or My Aged Care assessment. Another suggestion an OT might make would be to recommend equipment that enables the person to work in a safer way.
- Confirm your funding. Look at the details of your plan or package, and how it is administered.
- Shortlist providers. Use the checklist below to compare two or three.
- Don’t meet with someone before getting involved with them. Seek a meeting with the individual who will be supportive.
- Do little and check more frequently. Do a few shuffles and then fine-tune. Any of the above can be altered if it’s not working for you; you can alter your times, your routine or your worker.
A list of seven questions to ask the provider can be found in the Provider Checklist: Seven Questions Worth Asking.
The Provider Checklist: Seven Questions Worth Asking
This outline (the Provider Checklist: Seven Questions Worth Asking) serves as a checklist for the providers. Not all service providers are created equal. When evaluating providers of assistance with self-care activities, these questions serve to differentiate the best from the good:
1. Are You Registered?
NDIS providers can be registered with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, and aged care providers are regulated by the Aged Care Quality and Safeguards Commission.
2. What Certifications Do Your Employees Have?
Ask for NDIS Worker Screening, police checks and Working With Children Checks (and First Aid if required).
3. What Type of Education Have They Received?
If they have a Certificate III in Individual Support or Certificate IV in Disability Support, that is a great indicator.
4. In What Way Will You Seem to See the Same Faces?
If you stick with it, people will start to trust you, and you won’t have to give repetition about your likes and dislikes each visit.
5. How Flexible Are You?
Ask about any unexpected changes, last call and cancellation policies.
6. Respect My Culture, Language and Identity?
Gender and language are options for requests, and can be combined.
7. Cost in Words:
Notice periods, rates and fees should be specified in a clear service agreement.
Small Changes Were Made to Make Home Easier Other Than the Bathroom Door!
Support is best used when it is in harmony with the home. Some simple equipment, such as shower chairs, grab rails, non-slip mats and raised toilet seats, can enhance safety and independence.
Your occupational therapist, who is a good person to ask, can recommend what would be OK, and there are some places where you can access some items through the NDIS or through aged care.
There are also two inexpensive practices that will help.
Have an ‘About me’ sheet on one side which includes what you like – e.g. what temperature you would like to have water, your favourite products, your private needs and how you would like to be addressed.
Second, maintain schedules. A regular time of day and tasks, and a warm bathroom, help for all.
Support to Help Protect the Wellbeing of Whānau While Living in the Local Area – Darwin to Devonport.
Access to something can be very different in a regional town when compared to a capital city. If the area where service is provided is scarce in rural and remote areas, consider questions about service areas, travel fees and flexible hours. Telehealth can also enable assessment and follow-up when needed, when specialists are unavailable.
Cultural safety is important in all places. Personal care is respectful and not uncomfortable in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisations, and with multilingual workers and providers who have an understanding of religious or modesty needs.
Be bold, ask for what you want.
Independence Is a Journey Started One Small Routine at a Time
One of the most intimate aspects of everyday living is personal care, and that’s why it’s important to be doing it right.
Dignity, safety and freedom of energy for the things that make life worth living are protected with the right kind of help and support with self-care activities, from an early morning cup of coffee with a neighbour to a barbecue with the family on a weekend.
To learn more, start a discussion. Your needs and funding can be discussed, and we will do this in a pleasant and non-threatening manner, and establish a routine around you. Contact us.
FAQ’s
What Does Being a Helper Mean When Doing Self-Care Activities?
Assistance with everyday personal care and activities (such as bathing, dressing, personal hygiene and eating). It is designed to keep a person independent, safe and comfortable in his/her own home. The level of support varies among people and, to meet their goals, it can be verbal or full physical support.
Are Self-Care Activities Covered by the NDIS?
Yes, provided it is a part of an eligible participant’s plan. This support is funded by the NDIS as Core Supports if it is reasonable and necessary to meet disability related needs. Depending on the type of plan managed (agency-managed, plan-managed, or self-managed), the amount, hourly rate, and providers available will differ.
What Skills Could a Support Worker Have in Relation to the Area of Personal Care?
Some support worker tasks and services involve showering, bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, continence support, meal support, safe bed or chair-to-bed transfers and medication reminders etc. They should NOT undertake tasks which they are capable of doing themselves. A good worker supports you to remain independent and supports your wishes in your support plan.
Who’s Eligible for Personal Care Support in Australia?
It is accessible to those who are eligible with disability through the NDIS and accessible to those who are older through My Aged Care. The Department of Veterans’ Affairs may be able to provide assistance to veterans, and compensation schemes may provide funding for individuals recovering from injury. Anyone can make a private payment without being assessed.
How to Make It More Convenient for Someone to Come to My Home for Assistance with Daily Activities, Like Bathing?
Your GP, occupational therapist or support coordinator should be contacted first to determine what needs you have. Then apply or seek an assessment, then access or apply for funding and then choose an assessment or one of the providers registered by the NDIS or My Aged Care. Discuss with support staff before providing services and draw up a service agreement in writing.
What Are the Requirements for a Support Worker and What Checks Should They Have?
Search for a Certificate III in Individual Support, Certificate IV in Disability Support or equivalent work experience. Most NDIS providers will need a National Police Check and First Aid training for any staff member that is in a role that poses a risk, and an NDIS provider who is registered will also need First Aid training. Inquire with any provider about screening and training procedures.
So What Is the Cost of Caring for Personal Needs in Australia?
Cost depends on the provider, time of day and the source of funding. Your hourly rate in the NDIS will be capped and may differ for support during weekdays, evenings, weekends and school holidays. The level of contribution to aged care will vary with the level of need and situation. Get any provider a detailed, written quote before you begin.
