5.5 Types of Services

It is easy to get confused about services. There are national, state and local services which may be private or public. There are services for the person with dementia (e.g. reablement or rehabilitation services) and for carers (e.g. respite services). Even more confusing is that there is overlap in the services different groups provide! The systems don’t always link to each other, and professionals within the different systems sometimes don’t understand the other systems very well.

To help make sense of what is available, services can be grouped into the following key types:

• Medical services
• Allied health services
• Support at Home services
• Dementia information and support services
• Respite services
• Financial support for carers

Medical services

Medical services include GPs, public and private medical specialists, hospital clinics and nursing services.

• They offer diagnostic, treatment, and referral services.
• They are often your best source to start with for referral to other services e.g. allied health. GP practice nurses often have great knowledge of a range of services that may suit your needs in your area.

Allied health services

Allied health comprises a broad range of health professionals including psychologists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, speech pathologists, social workers, dietitians, exercise physiologists and podiatrists.

• They offer reablement and rehabilitation services, as well as assessment and advice for particular problems that interfere with daily life and function such as communication issues, mobility, home safety and cognitive strategies.
• You can make appointments directly with private allied health professionals or get a referral from your GP.
• You may be able to get subsidies for allied health services through your private health insurance or through a GP Chronic Condition Management Plan for a limited number of sessions. A GP Mental Health Plan may also provide subsidy for limited sessions with a psychologist. There are programs to assist with the cost of necessary home modifications when prescribed by an occupational therapist.

Support at Home services

These refer to services that offer support for home cleaning, gardening, meals, shopping, transport, personal care services, and may include specialist nursing support. Some offer information groups, recreational activities and respite for carers. Some offer home modifications.

There are private services you can pay for, or government subsidised programs.

The major Australian Government subsidised services delivered to your home are:

• The Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP). CHSP is an ‘entry’ or lower level of service program that includes community transport, meals-on-wheels, community nursing, home modifications, and social programs. People might use one or more of these services, often delivered by different providers. CHSP will continue until June 2027 when it will transition into the Support at Home program.
• The Support at Home program. This Australian Government funded program now replaces the Home Care Packages program. Support at Home gives the person with dementia access to a bundle of services which are case managed by a service provider organisation of their choosing. Support at Home delivers an allocation of funds, which are held by the service provider. Services can include nursing and allied health care. People receiving Support at Home are asked to financially contribute to care.

An assessment is required to access these programs. You can read more on page 5.6 Getting services; My Aged Care.

Dementia information and support services

There are several national and state organisations that provide information, education, direct support, or links to get support. These include:

• Dementia Australia. The largest dementia specific support and advocacy organisation in Australia. Dementia Australia provides a dementia helpline (1800 100 500), post-diagnostic counselling, support groups and other services.
• Carers Australia. This link takes you to each state and territory Carers’ organisation which in turn has links to programs and services offered especially for carers.
• Alzheimer’s WA is a state-based association providing dementia information, services and support.
• Dementia Support Australia is a national, free 24/7 telephone service (1800 699 799) to provide information and support for people with dementia where changed behaviours are impacting their lives or the lives of their carer.
• There are a range of other dementia support, information, navigation and advisory services available through health and aged care services across Australia, including culturally specific services. As these vary from place to place, information can be found through My Aged Care (1800 200 422).

Respite services

• Respite simply means taking a break. Throughout this website we emphasise that planning and taking regular breaks is one of the most important things you can do as a carer to enable you to keep supporting the person with dementia while caring for yourself. Breaks can be anywhere from a few hours a week to a few weeks.
• The Carer Gateway is a phone and web service that can link you up with different types of respite in your area (1800 422 737).
• If the person you support is 65 years old or over, My Aged Care (1800 200 422) can arrange community or residential respite. You can read more on the next page 5.6 Getting services; My Aged Care.

Financial support for carers

• The Australian Government provides a number of options for financial support for carers, including carer payment, carer allowance, carer supplement and carer adjustment payment. Each have specific rules that you must meet e.g. a carer payment is subject to an income and assets test and is available to an Australian resident caring for a person who is also an Australian resident. A carer allowance is subject to an income test (no assets test). Services Australia provides a summary of current financial support, eligibility and the process for applying.
• There are rebates and concessions: the Pensioner Concession Card or Health Care Card lowers to the cost of medicines and services; there are transport concessions through subsides for motor vehicle registration in your state; taxi subsides for people with a disability and discounted train travel for seniors.
• A companion card can allow free entry to carers supporting a person with a disability (including dementia) to attend participating events such as exhibitions.
• In addition, don’t forget to apply for state issued Seniors Cards that may help with concessions for government services, like transport, and savings on other goods and services with participating business. You can find links to apply for Seniors Cards below:
• Queensland
• New South Wales
• Victoria
• Tasmania
• South Australia
• Western Australia
• Australian Capital Territory
• Northern Territory