Social Support Group & Centred Based Respite

What is social support?

Social support assists older people to participate in community life. Our Social Support Group is a structured, group-based activity program delivered at St Sergius Aged Care Community Centre, Cabramatta.  By offering something different to your normal routine, we can also meet the needs of carers who from, time to time, may need a break (respite). 

To participate in the Social Support Group, you will need to be assessed by a government assessor and receive approval to access  Commonwealth Home Support Services (CHSP) services. 

Generally, you must be 65 years of age to be eligible. 

Accessing your Services

You will receive a letter from the government approving your CHSP services however you will need to wait to be ‘assigned’ a package before we can offer you government funded services.  

When we access your assessment, we will review the information to ensure we can offer you the care and service you need and meet your preferences. 

Before you Commence Services

Our friendly Home Care Manager will ask you attend the Community Centre for a short interview. We recommend you allow about one hour for this meeting. 

We will ask you to supply us with the documentation we need. This will include:

• National Screening Assessment Form (ACAT Assessment) 
• Completed Pre-admission form
• Copy: Power of Attorney/Guardianship Documents
• Completed CHSP Service Agreement
• Completed Privacy Agreement

Where you require medication support, we will also request: 

• Medication Chart or list of medications from the hospital doctor or your GP (where needed)
• Completed Medical History from your GP (where needed)
• Webster Pack and non-packed medications (where this service is needed)

Standards and Quality Review for Residential Care

St Sergius operates in keeping with the Aged Care Act 1997, Aged Care Principles and Aged Care Quality Standards. 

We also abide by the Charter of Aged Care Rights (provided to you in your preferred language).  

St Sergius regularly reviews its processes and procedures and works with the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (the aged care regulator) when it conducts audits of our services. As a result of quality reviews, we continually improve our processes and procedures. We also conduct education and training sessions with our workforce on an ongoing basis.

All staff, volunteers and contractors are police checked.

The Program in Detail

The program operates daily from Monday – Thursday. A program of services is sent out to clients in advance. 

Our friendly and qualified staff offer the following services:

• Return bus service – transport from your home to the Community Centre (for those without transport). 
• Morning tea, hot lunch and afternoon tea
• Structured group activities that support your independence, e.g.
• Art and craft
• Barbeque in the park 
• Beer festivals 
• Bingo 
• Board games
• Bus outings
• Coffee and discussion 
• Concerts
• Cooking classes
• Exercise classes for health and wellbeing
• Fairs 
• Group excursions, e.g. 
• Trivia 
• Walking group 
• Wineries

Fees

The cost of the program is $11.50 per person per day of attendance. This cost is inclusive of the program, meal and snacks.