Commonwealth Home Support Programme
The Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) is an entry level home support program that helps older adults to live independently in their homes and communities. It also provides respite services to give carers a break.
The program aims to:
- help people live as independently as possible
- focus on working with them, rather than doing things for them
- build on people’s individual strengths and abilities
- give a small amount of help to a large number of people.
These services help older Australians to:
- stay independent and safe in their own homes
- delay or avoid high-level care such as residential care in an aged care (nursing) home
- stay socially active
- stay connected with their community
Eligibility
The CHSP is for older Australians who need support to live independently at home and are aged 65 years or over (50 or over for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander peoples) and have functional limitations and need assistance.
If your needs are more complex, a Home Care Package could be better suited to you.
Services We Offer
Personal Care
Our staff can assist with activities of daily living to help maintain appropriate standards of hygiene and grooming. This includes assistance with showering, dressing, grooming, medication monitoring, meal preparation, and shopping.
Domestic Assistance
We can support consumers with domestic chores by helping manage every day activities they may find difficult and require assistance to do. This can include: general house cleaning, clothes washing and ironing etc.
Social Support Programs
We offer a variety of social support programs for individuals and groups.
Individual Support is available to assist consumers to participate and access the community
Social Support Group assists consumers to participate in community life and feel socially included through group based activities that develop, maintain or support social interaction and connectedness.
Please speak to our Community Services Team about active groups within our region.
Respite Services
Our staff can support consumers and their carers providing respite support. Our staff can provide assistance to carers allowing them to attend to tasks outside the home whilst our staff care for the consumer in their home.
Home Maintenance
This service is provided to assist you to be independent by supporting you to maintain a safe and accessible home. The Home Maintenance Service is available to consumers who do not have family or friends in the area to assist them. Maintenance services can also assist in creating a home environment that facilitates independence and wellness.
Delivered Meals
(Meals on Wheels) provides a nutritionally balanced three course midday meal, delivered to your home. Meals consist of soup, a main course, dessert and fruit juice. Meals can be prepared to cater for individual choice and dietary requirements.
The Shire could not operate the Delivered Meals service without the assistance of the volunteers, we ask that consumers acknowledge and respect them.
Meal Vouchers are available to consumers who have been assessed through My Aged Care as eligible and requiring the service. A voucher booklet containing 10 x $8.00 vouchers is available for you to use at participating local businesses.
Centre Based Meals
Monthly meals are delivered to Senior Citizens clubs within the West Wimmera Shire at their request. Contact us for more information on 13 99 72.
Fees
Consumers are expected to contribute towards the cost of the services they receive, if they can afford to do so. Consumers will not be asked to cover the full cost of services. Consumers will not be denied services if they are unable to contribute to the cost of the services.
Fact sheets
The Department of Health Aged Care publishes documentation in relation to in-home aged care programs. These are available here:
Assistive technologies and home modifications scheme for in-home aged care.pdf(PDF, 2MB)
Transitioning to the new in-home aged care program older australians fact sheet no-1.pdf(PDF, 696KB)
To remain involved with the in-home aged care consultations, please visit the department's Ageing and Aged Care Engagement Hub