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Home and Community Care
OLOCACS commenced a range of services under the Home and Community Care (HACC) Program guidelines in 1989. OLOCACS now operate six (6) services under the HACC Program:
- Home Maintenance and Modification Service (HMM)
- Home Linen and Laundry Service (HLL)
- Repetitive Upkeep Service (RUS)
- Cumberland/Prospect Lawn and Garden Service
- Carer Support Service
- Blue Mountains Lawn and Garden Service
Home and Community Care (HACC) is a joint Commonwealth & State Government program which provides funds for organisations to provide a range of Services to frail elderly people and younger people with disabilities who are at risk of premature or in appropriate admission to long-term residential accommodation (nursing home, hostel, hospital), and for their carers.
HACC programs aim to enhance the independence, security and quality of life of those people identified as being ‘at risk’ of premature admission to a long-term care facility.
HACC it is not an income supplement for people on low incomes, nor do people qualify simply on the basis that they are on a pension. However, access to HACC services operated by OLOCACS is often ‘wait-listed’ and is prioritised according to assessed need. Vacancies for services which are ‘wait-listed’ usually only occur when a client no longer needs the service, for example, if they move into residential aged care or are deceased. The vacancy will then be allocated to the ‘wait-listed’ person who needs the service the most at the time the vacancy occurs.
The information provided below relates to each of the specific HACC services operated by OLOCACS.
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Home Maintenance and Modification Service
This service undertakes minor maintenance work, repairs or modifications to clients’ homes in the Blacktown Local Government Area (LGA). The aim of the service is to increase the independence and safety of clients. All work undertaken must be assessed as meeting that aim. Prior assessment by an Occupational Therapist may be required before work can commence. OLOCACS can arrange for this assessment.
Examples of work undertaken include: installation of internal/external ramps, hand held showers, hand rails and grab rails etc., Work that does not impact on independence and safety, such as painting or other beautification, is not undertaken. Repairs to fencing is also excluded.
Costs to the client are set at a subsidised hourly rate which is significantly less than commercial rates. There is no charge to the client for quotations or travel time and any materials used in completing the job are charged ‘at cost’. If other tradesmen, such as a licensed plumber or electrician are required, the actual cost of engaging this person will also be included in the quotation ‘at cost’.
Where applicants feel they are unable to meet either the full or part cost of the work, OLOCACS can negotiate the cost of the completed job, but will require the client to disclose personal financial information. Where that information is not provided, the full quoted price will apply.
Access to the service is via referral from other service providers, community nurses, occupational therapists, social workers or direct contact. Enquiries to be made on (02) 9832-4599 between 7.30am and 4.00PM - Monday to Friday.
Requests for work are prioritised on receipt. Where work is listed as low priority OLOCACS Ltd will contact client and advise there will be a wait, and will continue to make contact from time to time until job is able to be completed.
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Home Linen and Laundry Service (HLL)
This service covers the Blue Mountains, Penrith, Blacktown, Hawkesbury, Auburn, Holroyd, Parramatta and Baulkham Hills LGAs and is available to frail aged people or people with disabilities, who are incontinent. The service offers a supplementary linen service. Whilst not a total linen supply service, linen such as kylies, sheets, pillowcases, towels, will be supplied and cleaned. Deliveries and collections are made twice weekly. There is no laundering of personal garments.
Referrals are accepted from General Practitioners, Aged Care Assessment Teams (ACATs), community nurses, hospitals, home care or by direct contact.
Enquiries to be made on (02) 9832-4599 between 7.30am and 4.00pm - Monday to Friday.
When this service runs close to capacity new clients will be placed on a waiting list according to the assessed needs.
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Repetitive Upkeep Service (RUS)
This is a lawn-mowing service available to the frail, elderly and people with disabilities and their carers, living in the Blacktown City Local Government Area. The service also provides limited home maintenance services, including gutter clearing, garden tidying and window cleaning (outside only).
Operation is via a voucher system. OLOCACS allocates the contractor who will provide the service (either lawn-mowing or up to one (1) hour of ‘home maintenance’) in return for one (1) voucher and a small co-payment. The voucher enables the contractor to claim the balance of the fee from OLOCACS. OLOCACS contributes the balance of the cost for lawns up to 740 sq. metres plus 50 sq. metres for nature strips.
Referral can be made through the community nurse, doctor, Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) or other HACC service provider, as well as self-referrals. The service generally runs at maximum numbers so a waiting list is operative. Priority is given to those clients considered most at risk of institutionalisation.
Enquiries to be made on (02) 9832-4599 between 7.30am - 4.00pm Monday to Friday.
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Cumberland/Prospect Home Maintenance and Lawn Service
This service provides lawn-mowing and limited home maintenance to the frail, elderly and people with disabilities, Auburn, Holroyd and Parramatta City Local Government Area. The home maintenance component is limited to gutter clearing, garden tidying and window cleaning (outside only).
Operation is via a voucher system. OLOCACS allocates the contractor who will provide the service (either lawn-mowing or up to one (1) hour of ‘home maintenance’) in return for one (1) voucher and a small co-payment. The voucher enables the contractor to claim the balance of the fee from OLOCACS. OLOCACS contributes the balance of the cost for lawns up to 740 sq. metres plus 50 sq. metres for nature strips.
Referral can be made through community nurse, doctor, aged care assessment team or other HACC service provider, as well as self-referral. The service generally runs at maximum numbers so a waiting list is operative. Priority is given to those clients considered most at risk of institutionalisation.
Enquires can be made on (02) 9832 4599 between 7.30am and 4.00pm Monday to Friday.
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Blue Mountains Lawn and Garden Service
This service provides lawn-mowing and limited home maintenance to the frail, elderly and people with disabilities in the Blue Mountains Local Government Area. The home maintenance aspect is limited to gutter clearing and 3 hours garden cleans and a once (1) per year fire-prevention clean-up if required.
Operation is via a voucher system. OLOCACS allocates the contractor who will provide the service (either lawn-mowing, or 1x3 hour garden Cleans or a gutter cleaning) in return for one (1) voucher and a small co-payment. The voucher enables the contractor to claim the balance of the fee from OLOCACS. OLOCACS contributes the balance of the cost for lawns up to 800 sq. metres.
Referral can be made through community nurse, doctor, aged care assessment team or other HACC service provider, as well as self-referral. The service generally runs at maximum numbers so a waiting list is operative. Priority will be given to those clients considered most at risk of institutionalisation.
Enquires can be made on (02) 9832-4599 between 7.30am and 4.00pm Monday to Friday.
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Care Support Service
This service offers support to carers in the Blacktown and Penrith Local Government Areas (LGAs). Carers are people who provide care in an unpaid capacity to a relative, spouse or friend at home, who are either ageing, have a disability or long-term chronic illness or dementia.
Carers are supported by:
- free regular bi-monthly newsletters for information,
- support groups which also offer educational programs and social outings,
- craft groups,
- referral to other appropriate services and home visits.
There are no charges connected with this service.
Enquiries to be made on (02) 9832-5417 between 8.30am – 4.00pm, Monday to Friday.
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Home and Community Care (HACC) rights and responsibilities
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Confidentiality of information
All client information is treated as confidential. Access is restricted and personal information will not be made available to any other service provider/agency without first gaining the client or representatives’ permission. In exceptional circumstances OLOCACS may be legally compelled to release information e.g., via subpoena. If personal information is released by such means, OLOCACS would seek to ensure the information was only used for the purpose outlined in the subpoena or other authority, and not for any other purpose.
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Concerns, complaints and suggestions
If you have a complaint about any aspect of your service in the first instance you should direct your complaint to the service administrator for your Home and Community Care (HACC) program on: 9832-4599
If the matter is not resolved or you have further concerns, please contact the Community Care Manager, on (02) 9832-5418
If you feel uncomfortable ringing, you may ask your advocate to ring or you may write to:
The Community Care Manager
Our Lady of Consolation Aged Care Services Ltd
32 Evans Rd,
Rooty Hill NSW 2766
You will receive prompt attention to your complaint and the final outcome will be confirmed in writing.
If you are dissatisfied with the outcome you can write to:
The Chief Executive Officer,
Our Lady of Consolation Aged Care Services Ltd,
32 Evans Road,
Rooty Hill, NSW 2766
The Chief Executive Officer may ask for that the matter be reviewed or may refer the matter to mediation.
Clients and their representatives may also make an external complaint. The appropriate external agency for complaints about Home and Community Care (HACC) services is the NSW Ombudsman. Contact details are as follows:
NSW Ombudsman’s Office
Level 24 580 George Street
Sydney NSW 2001
Telephone: 02 9286-1000 or
Toll-free (outside Sydney metropolitan area) 1800 451 524
Whilst OLOCACS would prefer to have the opportunity to resolve all complaints directly in the first instance, OLOCACS also respects the right of clients and their representatives to make an external complaint.
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