One of the best parts of being an Australian citizen or permanent resident is the access to quality medical support and healthcare through government-funded systems and initiatives.

The Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) is one example of this care in action. Designed to help senior Australians access entry-level support services that enable them to live independently and safely at home, CHSP is designed to help individuals maintain their independence for as long as they can.

Eligibility for the Commonwealth Home Support Program is based on individual support needs and ages. It may be a fit for those who are starting to have trouble with everyday tasks and who feel that some support could lead to improvements in their health and wellbeing.

Eligibility requirements include:

• You must be aged 65 years or older (50 years or older for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people), or
• 50 years or older (45 years or older for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people) and on a low income, homeless, or at risk of being homeless

CHSP caters to a wide range of needs, with customisation for individual circumstances and independence abilities. The program can include:

• Help with impairments or continence - including continence advisory services, dementia advisory services, and vision and hearing services.
• Meals and food preparation - including help with meal preparation or meal delivery services.
• Bathing, hygiene and grooming - help with bathing, showering, toileting, dressing, getting in and out of bed, shaving, and reminders to take medication.
• Nursing - at-home assistance to help individuals treat and monitor medical conditions at home, including wound care and management, medication management, general health, and education that can aid with self-management.
• Podiatry, physiotherapy and other therapies - maintain movement and mobility with speech therapy, podiatry, occupational therapy or physiotherapy services, and other clinical services such as hearing and vision services.
• Day/overnight respite - supporting you and your carer by giving you both a break for short periods of time.
• Changes to homes - increasing or maintaining your ability to move around your home safely and independently.
• Home or garden maintenance - including fixing uneven flooring, cleaning gutters, and minor garden maintenance.
• Cleaning, laundry and other chores - assistance with making beds, ironing and laundry, dusting, vacuuming and mopping, and unaccompanied shopping.
• Aids to stay independent - including help with mobility, communication, reading and personal care limitations.
• Transport - helping you to access appointments and community activities.
• Social outings, groups and visitors - enabling you to remain social and interact with your community.

As the Commonwealth Home Support Programme is under the auspices of myagedcare start your
application process here.

This covers eligibility first and then provides information on whether you meet the requirements for
an assessment and how to apply for an assessment to see if you qualify and if so at what level of
funding.

Applying for an assessment can be done online and shouldn’t take more than 15 to 20 minutes to
complete. Once you submit your form an assessor will contact you within 2-6 weeks to arrange an assessment.

You can call 1800 200 422 for more information.

The CHSP is a fantastic way for those with continence management needs to access support and the supply of high quality incontinence products.

You can browse our trusted range of continence management products here in preparation for your CHSP assessment and access.