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Dungog & District Neighbourcare Inc. services make it possible for frail aged, younger people with disabilities and their carers to be independent and continue to live in their own homes.
Neighbourcare's services are offered in Dungog, Clarence Town, Gresford, Paterson and surrounding towns in the Dungog Local Government Area. Some Services have been available to the community since 1970.
Neighbourcare Provides:
* Neighbour Aid / Social Support
* Community Transport
* Health-related Transport
* Respite for Carers
* Meals on Wheels - Food Service
* Community Aged Care Packages
* Domestic Assistance
* Centre-based Daycare
* Peer Support / Social Support
* Health-related Transport
* Formal Linen Service
* Dissemination of Information
Neighbour Aid / Social Support
Neighbour Aid provides caring volunteers who can help with shopping, social outings, short periods of carer respite, companionship and odd jobs around the home. Volunteers are also available to assist clients with special needs, for example, taking young or older disabled clients on social outings to give their carers a break.
Community Transport
A car service driven by a volunteer provides individual clients with transport from home to appointments, shopping and social visits. A wheelchair accessible vehicle is available for those that require it.
Medical transport to Newcastle / Maitland / Raymond Terrace area, are arranged on Tuesdays & Thursdays where possible.
Bookings need a minimum of 24 hours notice except for emergencies. All bookings no later then 2pm the day before travel.
Bus services run from Dungog, Gresford, Paterson and Clarence Town to Maitland, Raymond Terrace and local venues. Please contact Neighbourcare for a detailed timetable.
Health-related Transport
This service is available to all within the general community who access any of the Hunter New England Health Facilities.
Respite for Carers
Respite care is time out for carers. It can be provided in the client's home, in the home of a host family or as a social outing. Respite care can also include day care, for example Care and Share or the Hospital Therapy Group in Dungog.
Meals on Wheels - Food Service
Fresh cooked hot meals can be delivered by volunteers up to 7 days a week for 52 weeks of the year. The lunchtime meal consists of soup, main meal, desert, juice or fruit and costs $6.00. Meals are tailored to suit Specific dietary or cultural needs of the client. Frozen meals including special diets, such as coeliac, are also available on request.
Community Aged Care Packages
These packages are based on individual assessment and are planned and co-ordinated according to the client's particular needs. This assessment is provided by the Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT)
CACPS include assistance with:
* Personal care, including showering or bathing and dressing
* Housekeeping such as laundry
* Limited transport and shopping
* Meal preparation
* Social activities
* Medication
Carers are specially trained for work they do with CACPS clients.
The types of services, number of hours and days per week are negotiated with the client and family, and are re-negotiated as and when the client's needs change.
Domestic Assistance
Domestic Assistance is an affordable, essential cleaning service for older people and people with disabilities that may require a little extra assistance within their home. The service is flexible and offers assistance on the basis of one to two hours weekly or fortnightly, which includes a wide range of domestic chores, such as:
* Sweeping, vacuuming and mopping of floors
* Bathroom cleaning (including toilet, vanity and shower recess)
* Kitchen cleaning (including monthly cleaning of oven)
* Wet dusting
* Changing of bed linen and laundry duties as required
Quality cleaning products and equipment are provided as part of the service.
The cost to the client is kept to a minimum and is based on an hourly contribution.
Centre-based Daycare
This service provides structured group activities to older people which are designed to maintain independent living and encourage social interaction. Newcomers are always welcome at any of the groups!
The "Care & Share" group meet each Friday from 10.00am to 2.00pm and enjoy their time together participating in a range of activities, games and discussions. For a small contribution, morning tea and lunch are supplied at the Centre.
The "Mens Group" meet each Wednesday at Dungog Memorial RSL Club from 10.00am to 1.00pm. The group enjoy mateship and share morning tea, activities (dominoes, cards, pool, carpet bowls, etc.) and have a hot lunch in the Club Bistro.
The "Gresford Grooves" Program is a local project aimed at improving the health of older members of the community, as well as providing a social outlet for those that may be isolated. The Program consists of Tai Chi on Mondays and Yoga on Wednesdays. Both classes are held at the Therese Doyle Community Hall, Park Street, East Gresford from 9.00am to 10.00am. Additionally, the "Dungog Dazzlers" program is held at the Uniting Church Hall, Dowling Street, Dungog and consists of Tai Chi each Monday from 11.30am to 12.30pm (Morning tea from 11.00am).
Centre-based Daycare also includes a variety of group excursions and activities held away from the Centre, for which transport is provided.
Peer Support / Social Support
Social support funding is targeted toward younger people with a disability to provide social activities on weekends and out of hours for all to enjoy.
Formal Linen Service
This service is available to the HACC Target Group in the Dungog Local Government Area, for incontinent frail-older persons, incontinent persons with a disability or their carers who are having difficulty maintaining a clean supply of linen.
Sheets (sizes to fit all), pillow cases, towels, face washers, kylies, panelweave blankets, waterproof mattress protectors and plastic drawsheets are provided by us as part of this service.
Our dedicated staff can deliver a clean supply of linen to your door twice a week and pick up any soiled linen that requires laundering using our quality cleaning products. We can arrange the service to suit your individual needs, whether you require a full service from us over a long period or just temporary assistance.
Whatever it is that you may require - please contact us at Dungog & District Neighbourcare Inc. and ask how we can make your life easier !!
Special Needs Groups
Service provision available including:
* People from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds;
* Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders;
* People with dementia;
* Financially disadvantaged; and
* People living in remote or isolated areas
Costs
Clients contribute to the cost of most Neighbourcare services.
Volunteers
Volunteers are an important part of the Neighbourcare team and without them we could not exist. Our clients are also very grateful for the volunteers' assistance and dedication. If you care about people, like chatting, have a few hours to spare and wish to give something back to the community, we would love to hear from you.
Funding
Neighbourcare is jointly funded by the federal and State Governments and is managed by a community based Management Committee.
How Can You Obtain These Services?
Referrals can be made by:
* Yourself or Family and Friends
* Your Doctor
* Community Nurse
* Hospital
* Other Health and Welfare Agencies
From March, 2008, all new and potential clients seeking services through the organisation are to contact Community Care Access Point on 1300 731 556 who will assess each individual over the telephone for HACC eligibility before referring on to appropriate service/s. Please note that either the client themselves can contact the Access Point or this can be carried out by client's family, friends, local GP or other health agencies.
Neighbourcare Hours
Monday to Friday
8.30 am - 4.00 pm
Please ring, fax or call in at our office for further information:
Our office is wheelchair accessible.
How Can You Help with These Services?
We are always grateful for the assistance of our dedicated volunteers.
If you could spare some time to help provide the following services:
* Meals on Wheels
* Community Transport
* Respite
* Linen Service
* Daycare activities / group outings
* Neighbouraid
* Social Support
We would be pleased to hear from you on:
Telephone: (02) 4992 3348
Our services are funded by State and Federal Government Departments as follows:
* Department of Health and Ageing
* Ministry of Transport
* ADHC (Ageing, Disability and Home Care)
Enquiries welcome from special needs groups
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