Australian Greek Welfare Society

Contents:

• Introduction
• Planned Activity Groups (PAG) Programs
• Respite Program
• Volunteer Programs
• Culturally Equitable Gateways Strategy (CEGS) Project
• Community Aged Care Packages (CACP's)
• Photo Gallery

Introduction

The HACC National Standards review under the National Quality Assurance Framework conducted an audit of AGWS's HACC programs in August 2003 and awarded AGWS a score of 96% which clearly demonstrates AGWS's ability to manage and deliver programs that are high in quality and integrity.

The purpose of this audit was to ensure internal quality control mechanisms were in place and that service quality outcomes were developed and met. Items reviewed at the audit included:

• Access and equity
• Information and consultation
• Efficient and effective management
• Co-ordinated, planned and reliable service delivery
• Privacy, confidentiality and access to personal information
• Complaints and disputes
• Advocacy

Further recognition of quality and relevant program development was received in December 2003, with a commendation from the Moreland City Mayor for the AGWS Disability Services Program.

The Aged & Disability Services Unit has continued it efforts to provide support services for an ageing Greek population as well as addressing any new or emerging needs. Services are currently being delivered to over 440 elderly and people disabilities per week. Despite this extensive service provision, AGWS faces considerable challenges in meeting the demand for services by a rapidly ageing population.

PLANNED ACTIVITY GROUPS (PAG) PROGRAMS

The AGWS PAG programs are funded by the State Government through Department of Human Services, as well as the Commonwealth Government through the Department of Health and Ageing.

Planned Activity Groups provide culturally and linguistically appropriate social support to the Greek speaking community. AGWS has provided these services for the last twelve years. The PAG Centres operate accross all the four Metropolitan Regions: Northern (Preston), Southern (Oakleigh), Eastern (North Balwyn) and Western (Sunshine).

The PAG programs cater for the socially isolated frail elderly living within the community. In addition, the PAG programs also cater for younger people with disabilities in the Northern and Southern regions.

In addition, the PAG Centres provide companionship, culturally appropriate food and various activities throughout the day forparticipants. Personal care is also provided as required. Transport is co-ordinated by Centre Supervisors for each participant that attends ensuring that no undue stress is sustained by the very frail in making their way to the centres .

A strong emphasis is constantly maintained on the provision of quality services. Each year, an evaluation of all services is carried out. Carers and participants are asked to complete an anonymous questionnaire and are encouraged to discuss with staff, ways to improve the program. From having a cup of Greek coffee, to ensuring all food meets appropriate safety standards, to activities and the co-ordination of transport, centre participants are well catered for in a safe, enjoyable and culturally appropriate environment.

The valuable contribution of volunteers is also an important aspect of this program. Volunteers attend and compliment the work performed by our staff. This enables AGWS to devote more time and particular attention to the needs of program participants with higher and complex needs.

RESPITE PROGRAM

The Respite Program has a clear carer focus. The program provides services to carers from a Greek speaking background. These services provide care for frail elderly and younger adults with a disability by giving them a break from their usual caring responsibilities and assistance with the performance of their caring role.

The Respite Services contribute to the support and maintenance of caring relationships between cares and their dependent family member by providing access to respite care and support appropriate to their individual needs and circumstances. The service meets and responds to the needs of both carers and the person being care for.

This program offers benefits for both carers and care recipients. Carers receive a break from their caring role and are able to attend to other personal tasks. This in turn assists in reducing stress and anxiety levels that are often associated with the caring role.

On the other hand, care recipients receive services that enhance their independent living skills through a variety of activities provided by the Respite worker that include physical as well as mental stimulation. The objective of these activities is to assist the care recipient to continue living an independent life as much as practicable in their own home and avoid being admitted to an Aged care facility prematurely.

This year, AGWS has offered 16,000 over 16,000 hours of respite service to carers of frail elderly and younger people with a disability thoughout the Melbourne Metropolitan Area.

The programs that are offerred are:

In Home Respite:

The worker visits the care recipients at their home and provides personal care (depending on their needs), companionship and various activities.

Recreational Respite:

The worker takes the care recipient to outings such as a walk or a coffee, to watch a movie and other community activities.

During the year many carers attended seminars and workshops organised by AGWS in cooperation with mainstream service providers and support agencies such as the MS Society, Arthritis Foundation and Alzheimer's Association. Through these seminars, and by using links and networks through information provided by AGWS, carers had the opportunity to access information, education and specialist assistance, on issues relating to and affecting their role of caring.

The Respite Program is funded through both the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care and the State Department of Human Services (Home and Community Services).

Consequently the program complies with both the National Respite for Carers Program (NRCP) and the Home and Community Care (HACC) National Service Standards which form the framework for a quality service delivery and provide a common reference point and the basis for internal quality control, monitoring and evaluation.

VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS

The AGWS Aged and Disability Services Volunteer Programs involve 150 culturally and linguistically, trained volunteers. These volunteers are committed to providing services to frail, aged and younger people with disabilities, either living at home or at an Aged Care Facility, who are socially and culturally isolated. The Volunteer Program itself is divided into two categories, in order to better meet the specific needs of the community.

Social Support Program (SSP)

The Social Support Program is funded by the Department of Human Services HACC Program. This year the SSP provided 6,812 hours of volunteer support to frail elderly people and younger people with a disability.

Since 1990, Social Support volunteers have contributed to the social and cultural well being of clients through regular personal contact at their homes. These volunteers contribute to the prevention of the experience of social and cultural isolation, and help recipients to maintain their independent style of living. Furthermore, volunteers promote activities that enhance physical and mental stimulation, reduce stress levels and contribute to the general well being of clients and their carers. Such activities include the provision of support for individuals to participate in activities and community events that are of interest to them such as daily social outings, excursions, and other social activities. In addition, volunteers endeavour to clients with their efforts to maintain a connection with the community and thus reduce feelings of social isolation.

Community Visitors Scheme (CVS)

The Community Visitors Scheme Program is by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing. The Scheme aims to provide support to Greek isolated elderly in aged care facilities. Currently we have 57 volunteers who provide emotional support by visiting Greek residents on a weekly basis.

The program also aims to link isolated Greek residents, in aged care facilities, with volunteers in order for them to establish and maintain links with the wider community, increase socialization, reduce isolation and provide companionship in culturally and linguistically appropriate manner.

Appropriate training is provided to volunteers on issues such as: agency policy and procedures, duty of care, privacy and confidentiality, communication and listening skills, mental health issues, palliative care and Alzheimer's/dementia. Through this training, volunteers gain knowledge and understanding of issues concerning the elderly in aged care facilities and in the community in general.

AGWS also engages in cultural training to aged care facility staff. This area of work is rapidly expending because of the high numbers of Greek speaking people residing in mainstream aged care facilities. Furthermore, as the population is ageing more rapidly, there is a shortage in the number of `Greek specific' beds that are available to meet the high demand.

In addition, AGWS also assists aged care facilities in organising cultural activities and celebrations: national and religious days, Greek dancing, music and appreciation of Greek food.

Volunteer Management

Social Support and Community Visitors Scheme volunteers are supported and guided by the two Volunteer Coordinators. They are responsible for promoting the volunteer programs to the community, recruitment of volunteers, assessment, and training. Volunteers undertake a complete induction to the organisation and to the volunteer programs, including a comprehensive briefing as to volunteer rights and responsibilities, privacy and confidentiality, duty of care, effective communication skills, support groups, emergency situation procedures and dealing with difficult behaviours. Upon completion of induction training, volunteers are presented with a kit to be used as a reference guide. Furthermore, volunteers are provided with on-going training to assist them to more effectively help program users.

Some topics presented and discussed with volunteers in the last year included:

• AGWS Services
• Aged and Disability Services Programs
• Introduction to Volunteer Programs - SSP / CVS - Job Description
• Volunteer Rights and Responsibilities
• Dementia / Alzheimer's
• Mental Health and Behaviour
• Loss and Grief
• Huntington Disease
• Parkinson Disease
• Aged and Disability Services to Community / Manningham City
• Cancer and consequences.
• Communication and listening Skills.
• Multiple Sclerosis

In addition, the number of social and cultural activities have been organised, can be highlighted by the following:

• Volunteer Annual excursion: Tour and Lunch to Cuckoo Restaurant.
• Volunteers Celebration of the International Women's Day at AGWS.
• Volunteers Christmas luncheon at AGWS premises.
• New Year Celebration by Volunteers and Clients. - 'Vasilopita event'.
• Volunteers Excursion to Blackburn Lake Sanctuary, to celebrate the National Volunteer Week.
• Volunteers Participated at Federation Square Festival to celebrate the International Volunteer Day.
• Health and diet issues

Volunteer Recognition

Volunteers participate in a range of activities and social functions, to maintain the `togetherness' of the group as well as to recognise their loyal, compassionate efforts.

Presentations of CVS Badges and Certificates of Acknowledgement were presented to CVS volunteers to commemorate the 10 years of the existence of the program. This was an initiative of the Department of Health and Ageing.

Volunteers' efforts are also recognised and promoted within the community through Australian-Greek media, including newspapers, radio and community television.

Culturally Equitable Gateways Strategy (CEGS) Project

AGWS was successful in obtaining a 3-year funding for CEGS from the State Government through the Department of Human Services.

This project aims to review, expand and improve the use of HACC Core services by people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds.

In particular, the project is working in partnership with local government to ensure that the Council HACC basic services are more responsive to the needs of the Greek speaking community and that the uptake of these services is appropriately increased by eligible Greek speaking clients.

Some of the strategies that will be implemented by the project can be highlighted by the following:

• The development of effective marketing tools that will aim to promote HACC Core services to the Greek speaking community.
• The provision of information sessions about HACC services specific to the target group.
• The implementation of an effective media campaign that is primarily aimed at the target group.
• The distribution of materials including displays at community events and festivals, in foyers of community agencies and clubs.
• Outreach to isolated members of the community who cannot be effectively reached by other methods.
• The provision of information sessions to HACC eligible clients in order to explain the options available to them through the HACC system.
• The provision of cross-cultural orientation and training to staff of local government who offer HACC services.
• Working in partnership at the local and regional levels with other CALD providers and Councils.
• Documenting good practice models.

Currently, AGWS is participating in committees and networking with service providers in all regions of Melbourne to ensure successful outcomes for this project.

Community Aged Care Packages (CACP's)

The AGWS Greek Care, CACP’s program currently operates in the EASTERN region only.

The CACP’s program provides community care in a person’s home. The program has been developed to provide an individual care program to assist elderly to maintain independence in their own home rather than going into an aged care facility. An elderly person needs to be assessed by the Aged Care Assessment Service (ACAS) and deemed to be Low Level Care to be eligible for the CACP’s program.

This care may involve:

• Case Management.
• Cleaning the home - vacuuming, cleaning the shower, toilets etc, and mopping the wet areas.
• Personal care – assisting with showering, shaving, grooming etc.
• Cooking – culturally appropriate meals
• Shopping/bill payments – the care worker can accompany the client to the shops to assist with shopping tasks and other errands.
• Recreational / medical appointments – a worker can transport and escort clients to appointments

If there are any further enquiries please call Nikki Efremidis on 9388 9998.

Photo Gallery

� 2005 Australian Greek Welfare Society