Aged Care Coffs Harbour and Bellingen Areas
ACAT (Aged Care Assessment Team)
Program Manager: Dorothy Wilson, phone: (02) 6656 7688
The Aged Care & Rehabilitation team covers the Local Government Areas of Coffs Harbour City Council and Bellingen Shire Council. This area runs from as far north as Red Rock and as far south as Scotts Head. Our region east to west runs from the coastline out to Dorrigo and Bellingen.
There are a range of services available to help within the Aged Care & Rehabilitation Service which are located at Coffs Harbour Health Campus. These include the Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT), Aged Care Transitional Intervention Program (ACTIP), Veterans Home Care Assessment and Coordination (VHC), and Residential Respite Coordination. These services provide care to older persons at a level equal to or above that provided across the state. Innovative programs such as ACTIP have been researched by the Commonwealth and State departments with view to setting the program up in other locations to improve service provision.
All services are directed at improving the level of independence in older people and focussed on a wellness model.
ACAT includes a Geriatrician, nurses, Social Welfare Officer, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapist and Dementia Counsellor. A member of the team will attend assessment for you either in your home or in hospital, to help you choose the services that most suit your needs, to continue living in your own home, or to enter a residential facility such as a nursing home or hostel. Some services that are considered are HACC services, Respite Care, Community Care Packages.
ACAT runs an Alzheimer's Support group on the 1st Tuesday of the month at 1Oam at the Community Village, Earl St, Coffs Harbour, and the group also holds clinics for hydrotherapy, amputees and dementia assessment.
In conjunction with a visiting Psychogeriatrician specialist clinics are held Fortnightly
ACAT is a free service and can be contacted Monday to Friday during business hours on 6656 7688.
A comprehensive Carer Service Directory has been developed by NCAHS staff, it provides information about a wide range of services to support carers across our region.
ACTIP (Aged Care Transitional Intervention Program)
ACTIP assists people over 65yrs (over 45yrs for Indigenous Australians), or those , age related conditions, who have had a recent illness or injury, whose situation would improve with a short period of extra care at home (8 weeks ). The program aims to provide and coordinate services to support clients during their recovery and to help clients return to their previous level of independence. Where necessary ACTIP refers clients to other community services for ongoing needs. An assessor will discuss your health, social and personal needs, and in consultation with you develop a plan of care. ACTIP consists of nurses, Occupational therapist, Physiotherapist.
ACTIP is a free service which operates in the Coffs Harbour LGA 8.30am to 7.30pm, 7 days per week. Referrals can be made during business hours on 6656 7688.
Residential Respite Coordination
The Residential Respite Coordinator provides a single point of contact for booking information on Residential respite care, including crisis respite, and Aged Care Facilities in the Coffs Harbour, Bellingen and Nambucca LGAs. The coordinator can provide you with information on where and when residential respite is available, whether a facility is suitable, the cost of the respite, and any special requirements. The coordinator can book clients into suitable facilities, offer assistance in ensuring all arrangements are complete, refer clients to other services and provide support to clients and carers.
VHC Veterans Home Care Assessment and Coordination
The Mid North Coast Area Health Service is a VHC Assessment and Coordination agency for the Department of Veteran's Affairs. VHC can assess and coordinate services for eligible Veterans on the Mid North Coast. The program helps veterans and war widows/widowers with low care needs to remain in their own homes for longer. Services which are available include domestic assistance, personal care, home and garden maintenance and respite care.
VHC Assessment and Coordination can be contacted on 1300 550 450 and is a free service (in home support services carry a co-payment cost).