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What geographic areas do APCare staff cover?
APCare staff travel
throughout the Eastern Suburbs, South Eastern Sydney, Greater
South West Sydney and the Illawarra area (North & South).
Am I eligible to receive a service from APCare?
Anybody
in our geographic catchment area who needs the type of assistance
we provide is eligible for a service. Services are provided on
a fee for service basis.
However services can also be subsidised. APCare understands that many people are often not the purchasers of services due to financial hardship reasons and may even be eligible for government services and assistance.
How much does it cost to have an APCare Worker come out to
support me?
Costs vary on the type of service you require – for example,
it will cost less for domestic duties services delivered over a
1 hour period than it costs for nursing services over the same
period. The minimum amount of time you can book an APCare worker
to come out and provide you with any sort of care we offer is 1
hour. This is known as the “Minimum Billable Period”.
What if I can’t afford to pay?
Frail older people and younger people with disability in NSW
and their carers who are having difficulty managing in their own
homes are often eligible for help. We can point you in the right
direction of various government bodies you can approach.
See
Who We Help
How do I get assessed as being eligible for subsidised home
care services?
Contacting your local Carelink Centre is the first step. You
can contact your nearest Carelink Centre by calling 1800 052 222.
Their website is www.commcarelink.health.gov.au. Carelink would advise of possible appropriate
services and provide information on general services - funded and
non-funded - with a general service description relevant to your
local area. The service representative would then ask you questions
in relation to the general eligibility criteria they have, in order
to make a determination as to which subsidized services may be
appropriate for you. They will then give you further specific information
on particular service providers in your local area – such
as APCare - however each individual service provider will complete
a thorough eligibility determination process in order to assess
your needs prior to providing you a service. They would then give
you the option of providing you with the information you require
by email or post.
Being eligible does not mean you will automatically get a service
as there is a high level of demand. If Home Care are able to help,
an agreement outlining your services and fees will be drawn up.
Home Care clients do make a contribution towards the services they
receive – based on their ability to pay. Your Home Care Service
representative will advise you what you can be expected to contribute.
The remaining costs are shared between the NSW and Australian Governments’ Home
and Community Care program.
As Home Care does sub-contract APCare to work with a number of
assessed clients, we may end up providing you a service that
is subsidized by Home Care. However, the sub-contracting arrangement
is up to Home Care to negotiate.
I have complex needs. How will needs be assessed and routines followed?
APCare will assess the client's care requirements and develop
a Care Plan that is task-orientated and aimed particularly for
Care Workers. By doing a needs assessment as early as possible,
we aim to ensure the Care Plan meets the needs of the client. A
Client Care Plan with documented processes is compiled as an information
resource to be kept at the client's home (with their permission).
If necessary, we will organise client specific training.
Please note that slightly different assessment processes are
applied to government subsidised clients. This will be explained
to you fully if APCare can provide you a service as an approved
provider under the government program through which you may be
entitled to assistance. The key differences have to do with reporting
service usage details to the various government bodies concerned.
What if my needs change from the time I initially contract
APCare’s services?
Once your services start, we will regularly review your needs
together. Your updated needs are fed into our updated Care Plans
and Service Contracts. This means that staff who provide you with
care of any description do so based on the life skills and life
quality areas in which you need assistance.
When can service commence?
This period can vary depending upon the complexity of the client's
requirements. Generally one to two working days are required to
source appropriately skilled staff for low needs care regimes.
High needs care regimes can require ten working days or longer,
depending on the tasks that need to be performed by staff. Emergency
care can often be arranged.
Who will I deal with on a day-to-day basis about my care?
The APCare Coordinator is the first point of contact for all
day-to-day inquiries for clients, their families and their case
managers. You will be notified of the Coordinator's contact details.
How will you match a Care Worker to me and my situation?
The Coordinator will strive to ensure the Care Worker(s) nominated
will be suitable to you. The matching process includes consideration
of your individual situation - such as age, sex, cultural or linguistic
requirements – as well as your care needs. We then endeavour
to select Care Workers that have the requisite sensitivity, aptitude,
experience, skills and qualifications to meet your needs and personal
situation.
Can Carers administer medication?
Under the Drugs and Poisons Act, the only person able to administer
medication is a Doctor, Chemist or Registered Nurse. APCare staff
can assist with medication administration if the medication is
in a Webster or blister pack that has been packaged by a Pharmacist
and if we can sight the written Care Plan outlining that the said
medications have to be taken at the identified times during the
day.
Can Care Workers handle my money?
APCare requires the written consent of the clients or their
immediate Carer if a Care Worker is to handle money for a client.
Care Workers will above all be honest and accurate in any accounting
they are required to do. In particular, our Care Worker will:
- only undertake tasks involving money which are specified in the
written consent;
- provide receipts for all money spent on your behalf;
- not undertake their own business at the same time as they are
carrying out your transactions; and
- ensure that you receive proper value for all expenditure undertaken
on your behalf.
Our staff are not allowed to do anything that involves your legal
or financial matters, such as:
- Operate your bank account, unless the client or person responsible
fills out the
necessary paperwork
- Act as your power of attorney
- Act as executor of your estate
- Sign credit cards
- Offer financial advice
- Offer to buy anything you own
- Accept loans or gifts, including any benefit from a client’s
Will
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