Make new connections and enjoy local fun activities close to home

Your local HammondCare At Home team is here to help with a range of social support options - so you can continue to feel connected to your community while being in the comfort of your own home.

Perhaps you like to keep busy – we could source a range of social activities to choose from within your local area. Or we could accompany you to appointments or community events. These are just examples; there are a number of social support options to choose from, which we outline further below.

You can access social support in three ways:

• Through the Social Support (Individual or Group) code from My Aged Care if you’re receiving Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) funding
• Via your Home Care Package funding
• Or self-fund – financing this service yourself.

For each of the three social support care options listed, your care team – care managers, clinical care managers, schedulers, service support officers and our specialist carers, make sure you receive the care and services you need.

We asked Senior Area Manager Sarah a few questions about the support available, and how you can benefit from these services.

1. What is social support?

Social support means providing opportunities for you to stay connected in ways that are meaningful to you.

Providing social support is intrinsic in how we care for people – caring for the whole person, their social, emotional, physical and spiritual wellbeing.

We recognise that each person has their own unique circumstances, so we take the time to get to know you, to determine how we can best help you, based on your own personal life experience and changing needs and goals.

It’s also about enabling choice and helping you to continue to enjoy your chosen lifestyle as your care needs change. We could help, for example, coordinate partnerships with local community groups on your behalf.

Our complimentary pastoral care and volunteer services also form part of our social support options, available to clients in some of our locations.

2. What are the three social support options that are available?

Social Support Individual

This care option is personally tailored so you can participate in community life. It might include visiting your favourite local café for a coffee, or accompanying you to a weekly Senior Citizens social event. Your care team will work with you to find out what best suit your needs.

Social Support Group

This is an opportunity for you to take a break from daily routines and connect with friends in a group setting. At a HammondCare Social Club you can chat with people your own age, take part in activities, including - crafts, painting, drawing, dancing, listening to music, sports, to name a few options - and share in a fresh homemade lunch.

We have a range of activities to choose from at any one time, depending on what you would like to do, and specialised carers are ready to assist with each activity.

Social Support Groups are available at the following HammondCare Social Club locations:

• Banksia Social Club, Kyogle (NSW)
• Beachcomber Social Club, Manly (NSW)
• Eden Social Club, Redcliffe (Queensland)*
• Elderwise Social Club, Scone (NSW)
• Forest Oak Social Club, Caringbah South (NSW)*
• Grey Gum Social Club, Yarrawarrah (NSW)*
• Ironbark Social Club, Hammondville (NSW)*
• Lyrebird Social Club, Berowra (NSW)*
• Richard Geeves Social Club, Nth Turramurra (NSW)*
• River Oak Social Club, Green Point (NSW)*
• Sanderling Social Club, Cromer (NSW)
• Tallowwood Social Club, Carindale (Queensland)*
• Waratah Social Club, Casino (NSW)
• Watergum Social Club, Mona Vale (NSW)

You can access the Social Support Group code from My Aged Care if you receive Commonwealth Home Support Programme funding. And you can continue to access this care option even if you transition to a Home Care Package. Again, you also have the option to self-fund if you would like this support in addition to your current services.

* These Social Clubs can take a Centre Based Respite code which can be accessed using a Commonwealth Home Support Programme Government subsidy. Your Care Manager and local Social Club Manager can help guide you through how to access this.

Flexible Respite

Flexible in-home respite is another available support option you may want to consider. This type of service is available to support both you and your main carer.

Access to flexible respite requires a specific code if you’re on a Commonwealth Home Support Programme. Your Care Manager can discuss this option in more detail with you, depending on your funding type.

3. What are the benefits of social support? Can you provide examples?

The benefits are many, but a common situation is when, due to changing circumstances, you may be living on your own at home and would like someone to chat to, or you need help with driving to a social occasion or for grocery shopping.

We can arrange a specialised carer to stay with you at a family event, or drive you to the location and then back home afterwards. Or you may feel comfortable catching a taxi on your own, in which case we can provide taxi vouchers.

The flexible nature of our Home Care Packages allows you to choose the services you need.

Ultimately social support is about helping to create positive experiences that are meaningful to you, regardless of circumstances, so you feel cared for and valued.

You can speak with your Care Manager to discuss which of the care options outlined here will best suit your personal needs and goals. They will be happy to walk you through each one in detail.

And you can call your Support Advisor on 1800 826 166 or email support@hammond.com.au and they can help to answer your questions or connect you to your local care team.