Assistance with aged-care responsibilities

As the population is ageing, more men and women will be faced with aged care responsibilities. More workers will become responsible for the care of elderly parents, while more mature-aged workers may also increasingly become responsible for the care of spouses. 

There are several services available which provide information, support and assistance with aged care and other care responsibilities:

Alzheimer's Association of Queensland

The Alzheimer's Association of Queensland (AAQ) is Queensland's leading not-for-profit community organisation whose primary aim is to help maintain the quality of life of people diagnosed with dementia and their caregivers. They offer a 7 day a week 24 hour a day helpline for information and support on Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. Contact the association on 1800 639 331.

Home and Community Care

Queensland Health administers the Home and Community Care (HACC) program, which provides a single point of access to existing aged care services and resources. HACC provides financial assistance to service providers for support services for frail elderly persons, persons of all ages with a disability, and their carers, in their own homes. 

The HACC Program encourages combinations of services and flexibility of service delivery to meet the assessed needs either of an individual or a region. Some services require a small contribution depending on the situation. HACC services assist carers to participate in the paid workforce and to balance their work and family responsibilities by providing services that carers would otherwise have to perform. 

The following are types of services which can be provided under the HACC Program by HACC funded agencies.

• services such as Community Options co-ordinate a range of services such as meals, day respite, transport etc for the client
• HACC funds a number of community organisations which provide services such as social support, carer counselling, information, advocacy and training
• pick-up transport services can collect clients at home and take them to places such as shops, medical appointments, respite centres. Some services may provide taxi vouchers or subsidies.

Disability Services Queensland

Disability Services Queensland (DSQ) works closely with communities to enhance service delivery and allow people with a disability, their families and carers more input into the policies that affect them.

DSQs responsibilities include:

• the provision of services and supports, both services operated by the department and those provided through the non-government sector
• community infrastructure development
• whole-of-government leadership and coordination.

The Family Support Program provides support aimed at strengthening the family's ability to care for their family member with a disability as well as continue to care for all family members. The program assists families through access to a facilitator who can support families in many ways, including:

• providing up-to-date information on available supports, resources and networks and
• linking families to the supports
• assisting with short and long term planning
• advocating, or assisting families to advocate for improved services from existing service providers
• providing access to discretionary funds available in the Family Support Program to purchase supports.

The Friendship Program encourages friendships between people with a disability and other community members. The program also provides information, training and support to help community-based recreational and interest groups foster environments that include people with a disability in friendship networks.

The Alternative Living Service (ALS) consists of small groups of adults with intellectual disabilities who live in the community with the support of paid DSQ staff. ASS was established so people with an intellectual disability can live in an environment which is least restrictive of their freedom and promotes community involvement. 

The Resident Support Program is an initiative to support and improve the quality of life for people with a disability who live in private residential services, such as hostels or boarding houses. Assistance is provided through:

• supporting socially isolated people to develop or rebuild relationships in their communities through activities such as suitable social, educational, recreational and vocational opportunities
• key support workers to help people to get primary health care, non-health related services and facilitate links to community based services
• disability support service to assist people with personal care, including showering, toileting, continence management, dressing and undressing.

The Adult Lifestyle Support Program is one of the ways DSQ assists adults with a disability to maintain the living arrangements of their choice, and participate in their community. The program offers support and funding so individuals can plan and make use of the services that suit them best. Examples include support at home to manage their household, strengthen personal and family relationships, take part in recreation and leisure activities, and purchase necessary aids and equipment.

The Carer Recognition Policy establishes a framework for Queensland Government departments and agencies to identify and recognise the important role of carers for those that they care for and for the community. Carer policy crosses all areas of public policy including social, health, education, employment and training, and industrial relations. An inter-departmental committee has been working in partnership with carers and their representatives to develop an action plan to implement this policy. The Queensland Government Carer Action Plan 2006-10 was launched on 1 December 2006. The plan outlines actions to support Queensland carers.

The Recruitment, Development and Retention Toolkit (previously People Management Toolkit) has been designed to provide managers within the Queensland disability sector with practical information on a range of people management practices, such as recruitment, performance management, training and skill development, and management development. The toolkit provides:

• practical guidelines and information on a range of recruitment, development and retention practices, including an overview of what each practice is, who is involved and how it will make a difference to staff and the agency
• examples of how staff, managers and the agency as a whole can be actively involved in each practice area
• templates to support suggested activities
• advice on how to evaluate and review these practices
• links to useful resources for further information, such as books, manuals, and website links for organisations and professional bodies.

Disability Council of Queensland

The Disability Council of Queensland (DCQ) works with Disability Services Queensland (DSQ) to identify and respond to disability issues at a regional and state-wide level. The Disability Council of Queensland is an initiative of the Department of Communities, which provides community engagement and administrative support for the DCQs activities. DCQ is comprised of the chairs from the ten Regional Disability Councils in Queensland together with a Ministerially appointed chair. 

The DCQ provides an opportunity for Queenslanders with a disability, their families, service providers and local community members to get involved in government decision-making in regard to the delivery of quality disability services in the state. The DCQ advocates for the needs of Queenslanders with a disability and their families, and advises the Minister for Communities, Disability Services and Seniors on issues affecting services to people with a disability.

Office for Seniors

The Office for Seniors has a lead role across government for ageing and older peoples' issues. The Unit consults broadly to develop and influence policies and programs which relate to ageing or impact on older people's lives, and develops and disseminates information relating to issues relevant to older people and those interested in ageing issues.

In addition, the office is responsible for other major initiatives that reflect emerging issues, provides guidance across government in relation to seniors' policy issues, and promotes positive attitudes towards older people and ageing through events that challenge stereotypes of older people.

Stroke Association of Queensland Inc.

Stroke Association of Queensland Inc. (SAQ) (non-Queensland Government link) aims to improve the quality of life of stroke survivors, their carers and families through communications, information, education and emotional support. 

SAQ is an information and referral centre that provides a range of services including:

• a quarterly magazine, information kits, brochures and posters
• health promotion (e.g. Stroke Awareness Week)
• stroke seminars and information sessions
• stroke support groups
• community education
• telephone support.

Council on the Ageing Queensland

Council on the Ageing Queensland (COTAQ) encourages older people, those who work with them, governments, and the community to achieve well-being and social justice for all older people. COTAQ promotes and protects the well-being of all older Queenslanders through policy and advocacy; education and information and community projects. COTAQ also provides links to organisations such as Centrelink that can provide income support payments to those eligible.

Carers Queensland

Carers Queensland provides carers with information and services to support them in their caring role. Carers Queensland is also committed to increasing awareness of carers and their issues. Carers provide unpaid support and assistance to a family member or friend who has a disability, physical or mental illness, or is frail aged. Counselling, information and resources such as a free carer support kit can be obtained from Carers Queensland.

ARAFMI Queensland Inc.

ARAFMI Queensland Inc provides information and support services for families and friends of people with mental illness and/or psychiatric disability. It also provides information for carers to cope with the demands and pressures of care giving, and communicate the needs of carers and families to health care professionals, government and community. ARAFMI aims to increase community awareness and understanding of mental disorders and decrease the stigma attached to mental disorders.

Ethnic Communities Council of Queensland

Ethnic Communities Council of Queensland (ECCQ) represents the interests of the many people from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, who are part of the broad social community, and promotes multiculturalism. ECCQ undertakes project and program development and focuses on aged and frail care, in-home care service for the frail aged, and residential care.

ECCQ also manages a Queensland health funded program delivering HIV/AIDS, hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections educational and information program into ethnic communities. ECCQ's state-wide systemic advocacy program aims for all people from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds to have equal access to services and can fully participate in all aspects of life.

Parent to Parent Association Queensland Inc.

Parent to Parent Association Queensland Inc provides information and peer support to families who have a family member with a disability or health impairment. The Association provides peer support by linking families with each other, and information via a number of training and skill enhancement activities for families and professionals. The training also contributes to building and maintaining positive and mutually respectful relationships between people with a disability, families and professionals.

Lifeline Community Care

Lifeline Community Care Queensland provides support to Queenslanders from Cairns to the Gold Coast and inland to Charleville. The organisation seeks to provide support to people in ways that recognise the dignity of each individual, strengthening them and their community. A variety of programs and services are available, such as family programs, children's services, disability supports and supported accommodation assistance programs.

Seniors Enquiry Line

Seniors Enquiry Line (1300 135 500) is a state-wide information and referral service open between 9am and 5pm on weekdays. Seniors Enquiry Line provides Queensland seniors, their family, friends and carers information on concessions, social activities, household assistance, retirement accommodation, finance, legal, computing for seniors, health, education and transport.