NSW Department of Family and Community Services, Ageing Disability & Home Care (ADHC)
Target Group
Persons living in the community who, in the absence of basic maintenance and support services are at risk of premature or inappropriate long term residential care.
What is the aim of the program?
To provide a comprehensive, coordinated and integrated range of basic maintenance and support for frail aged people and for younger people with a disability
To support these people to be more independent, thereby enhancing their quality of life and/or preventing their inappropriate admission to long term residential care, and
To provide flexible, timely services that respond to the needs of consumers
What service does the program provide?
Personal Care refers to assistance with daily self-care tasks in order to help a service user to maintain appropriate standards of hygiene and grooming.
Service activities may include:
Assistance with (or supervision of) showering or sponging
Assistance with dressing and undressing
Assistance with shaving, hair care and grooming
Limited nail care, following appropriate professional assessment
Assistance with mobility (in bed and out of bed) such as to sit up, to turn, to stand and walk, to sit, to transfer to commode, wheelchair, chair or vehicle.
Assistance with toileting
Assistance with prescribed exercise or therapy programs
Assistance with fitting and use of appliances such as splints and callipers or hoists
Assistance with hearing aids and communication devices
Assistance with feeding (eating and drinking) if it occurs whilst other personal care services are being provided
Monitoring self-medication
Identifying of situations such as pressure areas and ulcers, where referral to a nursing service is required
Referral to high-level services when required
What is the program’s assessment and review process?
Phone assessment if appropriate, face to face assessment as required.
Reassessments (reviews) will generally be conducted on an annual basis, more frequently if appropriate
Services are generally provided weekdays, Monday to Friday between 8:00 and 17:00, not on Public Holidays. Services may be provided outside of these days and times, which may include Public Holidays, if necessary.
What partnerships does the program have?
NSW Health (Community Nursing, Hospitals), Private Hospitals, Aged Care Assessment Teams, GPs, other HACC providers,
Program Fees
$10 per hour for pensioners, $15 per hour for non-pensioners
Who can refer to the program?
Self, family, friend, neighbour, other (HACC) service providers, Aged Care Assessment Team, GP, Hospitals, agencies or anyone in the community that has concerns for someone.
How do you refer to the program?
Customer Service Centre on 1800225474
Any other information
Generally three services per week are sufficient to maintain appropriate standards of hygiene and grooming. However, Services Agreements will reflect the particular needs and circumstances of individuals with a focus on preventing health deterioration.
In using an enabling approach, the individual requiring support becomes an active decision-maker in the planning and implementation of their community care support arrangements. As they become involved in identifying goals that are important and meaningful to them, and participating in decisions that affect their lives, their confidence and personal wellbeing is enhanced.
Referral Criteria:
Who is eligible?
People who are HACC eligible, i.e. people
With a functional disability who experience difficulty in carrying out tasks of daily living, e.g. personal care and/or dressing, and who have a need for assistance, and
people living in the community who, in the absence of basic maintenance and support are at risk of premature or inappropriate long term residential care
Who is not eligible?
People who are not HACC eligible
HACC eligible people who are already receiving similar services from other government program
Is priority access given?
It is the aim of the program to provide the most benefit to the greatest number of people. Priority of need is based on the following factors:
The vulnerability of the individual to further deterioration
The effect of service delivery on the carer
The likely effect of the service provided in assisting individuals to attain their goals, for example reduce risk of admission to residential care or maintaining quality of life in the community
