A Guide to Services for Senior Victorians
2002
Victorian Department of Human Services 3rd edition 2002 ISBN 07311 59969 2 FOREWORD A Guide to Services forSeniorVictorians2002 A GuidetoServices htcnhl o od hs rangeof that canhelpyoutodothis. A health andwell-beingorganisations Also listedareideasformaintaininggood recreation, leisureandretirementplanning. interest, includingeducation,work, points fornewareasofactivityand The Guidewillalsohelpyouwithcontact voluntary andcommunitysectors. Government, aswellthe Commonwealth, StateandLocal It providesinformationfrom It coversabroadrangeofsubjects. senior Victorians. and opportunitiesthatareavailableto greater awarenessoftherangeservices the Victorian Governmenttohelpprovide been thoroughlyrevisedandupdatedby Guide toServicesforSeniorVictorians people andtheirfamiliesfriends,this In responsetoastrongdemandfromolder Foreword has for you. new avenuesofinterestandsupport I trustyouwillfindthisGuideopensup the contactdetailsonfollowingpage. provide thatservicetoyou. You willfind funded SeniorsInformationVictoria to advice, theVictorian Governmenthas face oroverthephoneinformationand In recognitonoftheimportancefaceto been included. develop amedicalcondition,havealso you ifhaveanillness,accidentor maintain yourindependenceorassist support groups,thatcanhelpyouto Minister forSeniorVictorians Hon ChristineCampbellMP This Guide is available in a large print version If you cannot find for people who are print handicapped. The Guide is also available in the following the information community languages: that you are Arabic looking for in this Croatian Guide contact: Dutch German Hungarian Seniors Information Victoria - a free and confidential advisory and information service Italian for older people, their relatives and friends Latvian wanting information on issues affecting older Macedonian people. The service is available: Maltese 8.30am to 5.30pm Monday, Tuesday, Friday Polish 8.30am to 6pm Thursday Russian 9.30am to 5.30pm Wednesday. Serbian Phone: 1300 135 090; Fax 9639 7859; Email [email protected] .au Spanish Ground Floor, CAE Centre Ukrainian 256 Flinders Street Vietnamese Melbourne 3000 (Seniors Information Victoria will be moving in mid 2002. Phone 1300 135 090 for the new This Guide is available on the Rural and location.) Regional Health and Aged Care Services Internet site. The Internet version is amended An initiative of Council on the Ageing funded by the Victorian Government. as appropriate. The address is: www.dhs.vic.gov.au/acmh/aged
Organisations that would like to be listed in any subsequent issues of A Guide to Services for Senior Victorians are invited to apply in writing to: Positive Ageing Team Aged Care Branch Department of Human Services GPO Box 4057 Melbourne 3001 Email: [email protected]
A Guide to Services for Senior Victorians 2002 3 Contents
Foreword from the Minister for Housing Organisations that Employ Volunteers 31 and Senior Victorians 2 Help to Remain Living in the Community 32 Ministerial Advisory Council Home and Community Care Program 32 of Senior Victorians 6 Other Services to Help Seniors Card 6 the Householder 33 Centrelink 6 Housing 33 Contacting Centrelink 6 Aged Care Facilities 34 Centrelink Publications 7 Community Housing 34 Payments 7 Emergency Accommodation Pensioner Concession Card 8 and Assistance 36 Concessions 9 Moveable Units (granny flats) 36 Health 9 Retirement Villages 36 Transport 10 Supported Residential Services 37 Household 10 Tenancy Services 37 Commonwealth Seniors Health Card 11 Safety and Security 38 Department of Veterans’ Affairs 13 Confident Living for Senior Victorians 38 Senior Organisations 14 Emergency Call Systems 39 Need Someone to Talk to 15 Fire Fighting and Safety 39 Consumer Advice 16 Victims of Crime Support Groups 40 Local Government (Councils) 19 Elder Abuse 40 Employment 20 Aged Care Assessment 41 Retirement Planning 21 Disability 41 Money Matters 21 Caring for Others 42 Pensions and Benefits 22 Carer Support Groups 43 Getting Around 22 Victorian Carer Service Network 43 Community Transport 23 Owning and Driving a Car 23 Ethnic Services 43 Public and Private Transport 24 Umbrella Groups 43 Learning for Life 24 Translation and Interpreting Services 44 Recreation and Leisure 26 Multicultural Community Organisations 44 Exercise 27 Koori Services 46 Holidays 28 Feeling Good 47 Joining a Club 28 What You Can Do: 47 Newspapers 29 Breast Screen 47 Radio 29 Falls Prevention 47 Television 30 Foot Care 48 Volunteering 30 Hairdressing and Grooming 48 Volunteering Referral Health Insurance 48 and Resource Services 30 Influenza Immunisation 48
4 A Guide to Services for Senior Victorians 2002 CONTENTS
Nutrition and Diet 48 Special Needs Groups 59 Pap Tests 49 Speech Disorders 59 Pharmaceuticals 49 Stroke 59 Self Help 49 Vision Loss 60 Information and Support: 49 Women's Health 61 Acquired Brain Injury 49 Gay and Lesbian Services 62 Acquired Immune Grief and Loss 63 Deficiency Syndrome 49 Hospice and Palliative Care 63 Addictions 50 Support Services 64 Allergies 50 Funerals 64 Arthritis, Other Musculo-Skeletal Additional Sources of Information 64 Conditions and Osteoporosis 51 Websites 65 Artificial Limbs 51 Asthma 51 Appendix I Bowel and Bladder Disorders 51 Aged Care Assessment Services 67 Cancer 51 Coeliac 52 Appendix II Communicable Diseases 52 Department of Human Services Dementia 52 Regional Offices 68 Diabetes 53 Down Syndrome 53 Appendix III Epilepsy 53 Cognitive Dementia and Memory Haemophilia 53 Service Clinics 69 Hearing Loss 53 Heart Disease 55 Appendix IV Huntington's Disease 55 Hospice and Palliative Care Providers 70 Intellectual Disability 55 Kidney Disorders 55 Appendix V Lupus 56 Community Rehabilitation Centres 71 Men’s Health 56 Mental Health 56 Appendix VI Motor Neurone Disease 57 Victorian Centrelink Offices 75 Movement Disorders 57 Multiple Sclerosis 57 Muscular Dystrophy 57 Pain Management 57 Parkinson's Disease 58 Poisons 58 Rehabilitation Services 58 Respiratory Disease 58 Smoking 58
A Guide to Services for Senior Victorians 2002 5 Ministerial Services: The Seniors Card Program has negotiated Advisory Council of discount offers with a wide range of businesses and services. Seniors Card holders can also Senior Victorians take advantage of the discounted Sixty Plus fare on the Met and discounted fares on nominated GPO Box 1239L, Melbourne 3001 off peak V/Line services. Phone: 9616 8318; Fax: 9616 8931 The Seniors Card Program is located at the Email: [email protected] Seniors Centre Website: www.dhs.vic.gov.au/acmh/macsv/ Ground Floor, 555 Collins Street, The role of the Ministerial Advisory Council of Melbourne 3000 Senior Victorians is to work with the Victorian Phone the Seniors Card Hotline: Government to improve the quality of life, health 9616 8241; Fax: 9616 8332 and well-being of senior Victorians. The Council Website: www.dhs.vic.gov.au/seniorscard was officially launched by the Premier, the Hon. Call into the Seniors Centre to 'Surf the Net' Steve Bracks MP on 15 June 2001. or enjoy a cup of tea or coffee, and a browse through the papers. Members have been selected from nominations made by seniors throughout Victoria and come from a broad range of backgrounds including people from indigenous and culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Members Centrelink bring a wide variety of expertise and involvement with organisations concerned with Centrelink is a government agency that delivers the general well-being of seniors as well as a range of Commonwealth services to the other links to the community. Australian community. Centrelink’s customers The Council Chairperson is Ms Janet Wood. include retired people, families, people looking for work, people with a disability, carers, widows, primary producers, students and young people.
Contacting Centrelink Seniors Card Retirements 132 300* For calls about Age Pension, Eligibility: Commonwealth Seniors’ Health Card, Any permanent resident of Victoria, who is aged Pensioner Concession Cards. 60 years and over, who is retired or not working Disability, Sickness and Carers 132 717* more than 35 hours per week can have a For calls about Disability Support Pension, Seniors Card. There is no income or assets test, Mobility Allowance, Carer Payment, and people may apply irrespective of the age or Carer Allowance, Sickness Allowance. employment status of a partner. Other Allowances 132 850* Application forms are available at all official For calls about Mature Age Allowance, Partner Post Offices or from the Seniors Card Program. Allowance, Widow Allowance, Special Benefit.
6 A Guide to Services for Senior Victorians 2002 CENTRELINK
Appointments 131 021* where they want to live, whether a private Call to make an appointment to visit your dwelling, a retirement village, hostel or closest Centrelink office. nursing home. Teletypewriter Service 1800 810 586 Australian Retiree - Your Choices: A guide for A free service provided for people who are deaf self-funded retirees (including people living on or have a hearing or speech impairment. their superannuation) on programs, services, concessions and opportunities available to help Centrelink Multilingual Call 131 202* in maintaining their chosen lifestyle. Centrelink Multilingual Call allows people What to Do When Someone Dies: to speak to Centrelink in their own language. A step-by-step guide to help people deal with (1800 numbers are free calls. All other calls this difficult time. can be made from anywhere in Australia for Centrelink also provides information about its the cost of a local call. Mobile phone calls are charged at mobile rates). payments and services in a range of languages. These products are available from Centrelink For a list of Centrelink Offices see Appendix VI Customer Service Centres, on the Centrelink Website: www.centrelink.gov.au multilingual webpage www.centrelink.gov.au and by calling 131 202. Age Pension News is available in 15 languages. Customers can be Centrelink Publications put on the mailing list to receive Age Pension News in their own language by calling Centrelink has a range of free publications Centrelink on 131 202. available to retirees and those approaching retirement. For copies of these publications phone Centrelink on 132 300. Payments Age Pension News: This magazine contains all the latest information about pension rates and Age Pension other benefits. Quarterly issues are sent to Income support for people who have reached anyone who receives an Age, Service or War retirement age. The age is 62 or over for Widow/Widower Pension, holders of women and for a man, 65 years or over. Age Commonwealth Seniors Health Cards and Pension is subject to an income and assets test. members of the Pension Bonus Scheme. For more information about the qualifications Age Pension - All You Need to Know: for Age Pension phone Centrelink on 132 300. Illustrates the choices available, benefits and the procedures that are required when claiming Carer Payment the Age Pension. Carer Payment may be paid to full time carers Investing Money - Your Choices: who can’t work full time because of their caring An introductory guide to help people better responsibilities. For more information about manage their savings and investments, both Carer Payment phone Centrelink on 132 717. before and after retirement. Carer Allowance Home & Residence Choices for Older People: A valuable guide designed to help senior Centrelink provides Carer Allowance for parents Australians and those who care for them to or carers of children and adults with a disability. make informed accommodation choices on The payment of Carer Allowance is free of
A Guide to Services for Senior Victorians 2002 7 CENTRELINK
income or assets tests and is not taxable. Carer Allowance can be paid in addition to Carer Pensioner Payment or other Centrelink payments. For more information about Carer Allowance phone Concession Card Centrelink on 132 717. Who is Eligible? Rent Assistance The Pensioner Concession Card is issued to all Pensioners who are renting privately may be pensioners and recipients of Mature Age eligible for rent assistance. Considerations Allowance, Mature Age Partner Allowance, include the amount of rent or lodgings paid; Carer Payment and Parenting Payment (Single) family situation; whether the person is single customers. It is also issued to people over 60 or has a partner; whether the person has who have been receiving Newstart Allowance, dependant children living with them and Sickness Allowance, Widow Allowance, Partner whether the rent is shared or the person lives Allowance, Parenting Payment (Partnered) at with others. To claim rent assistance you will the additional rate or Special Benefit for more need to provide Centrelink with verification of than nine months. your rent. This can either be a copy of the lease The Pensioner Concession Card may be issued or a rent receipt. For more information phone on four occasions: Centrelink on 132 300. At the time payment is first granted; Telephone Allowance When a customer becomes entitled to a card; If you have a phone connection to your home Prior to their current card expiring if they for private use in your (or your partner’s) name remain eligible; or you are able to get Telephone Allowance. This is an extra Centrelink payment made every three When a card holder moves to another state. months with your pension. The allowance is The card may be retained by: indexed annually. Telephone Allowance is Ex- Disability Support pensioners during the currently paid at $17.20 every three months. For first 12 months of employment; and more information phone Centrelink on 132 300. Ex-Newstart Allowance and Special Benefit recipients for six months after loss of Centrelink Financial entitlement due to earnings (provided Information Service they are aged 60 years and over and Phone 132 300 to make an appointment with a have received benefits continuously for Financial Information Service (FIS) Officer. nine months). In all other circumstances the card should be This is a free and independent service provided destroyed when the card holder no longer by Centrelink to everyone. It enables people to receives a pension, allowance or benefit. understand the different types of financial investment products available, the financial Parenting Payment (Single) recipients whose options they have, and how to make choices payment is cancelled because of income from that are right for them. FIS also provides employment will be issued with a Health Care information on how social security pensions are Card for six months from the date of calculated, and how different investments affect cancellation and are asked to destroy their the rate of pension. Pensioner Concession Card.
8 A Guide to Services for Senior Victorians 2002 PENSIONER CONCESSION CARD
Dependants may also be eligible for some Hearing Service: You are able to obtain help by benefits and concessions. Please check with the applying to the Office of Hearing Services for a organisation providing the concession. Hearing Service Voucher. Hearing assessment and hearing rehabilitation, including supply and Concessions fitting of hearing aids, are available free of charge. In addition you may obtain maintenance The Victorian Government funds a range of of your hearing aid and a regular supply of concessions to improve the affordability of key batteries on payment of a $31.50 (inclusive of services for low income households. GST) annual service fee. Application forms are Most Victorian Government concessions are available through your general practitioner or directed to families and individuals who have a hearing practitioner. Commonwealth Concession Card, such as a Contact: The Health Information Line on 1800 Pensioner Concession Card or Health Care Card. 686 126 for general enquiries or the Office of Concessions provided to Victorians with a Hearing Services on 1800 500 726 Head Office Pensioner Concession Card include: or 1800 500 496 TTY. Health Dental Care: Subsidised dental treatment is available through Community Dental Clinics, Please note: Your Medicare Card is required some Hospital Dental Clinics and the Royal for basic hospital and medical treatment. Dental Hospital. A patient contribution is When using Medicare services your Medicare required for all adult dental services. Free dental Card should be used in conjunction with your care for children is available through the School Pensioner Concession Card. Dependants are Dental Service. covered by your Pensioner Concession Card and may be eligible for the following Contact: 9341 0428 or 1800 833 039 or 9341 health concessions: 0345 after hours emergency line. Prescriptions: You are entitled to prescription Eye Examinations and Low-Cost Glasses: medicines at a concessional rate through the are available at the Melbourne Optometry Clinic Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). By of the Victorian College of Optometry, or if you showing the pharmacist your card, you need live in the country, through the Victorian only pay $3.30* for most PBS medicines. If the Eyecare Service. medicine is not listed on the PBS or is only The cost of the eye examination is bulk-billed partially covered, you pay more than $3.30*. to Medicare and the glasses and contact lenses There is a safety net to assist people who need may be provided at very low cost. The actual a lot of medicines. To qualify for the safety charge depends on the type of glasses net, you should record your purchases of provided. The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear prescription medicines on a Prescription Record Hospital provides a similar service for people Form. When you have a record of spending with a medical problem. $171.40* in a calendar year, you are entitled Contact: Victorian College of Optometry on to free PBS medicines for the remainder of the 9349 7455, Victorian Eyecare Service on 9349 calendar year. 7434 or Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital on * subject to change 9929 8700. Contact: If you have any inquiries about the cost of prescription medicine, call the PBS Information Line on 1800 020 613 (Free call).
A Guide to Services for Senior Victorians 2002 9 PENSIONER CONCESSION CARD
Free Ambulance/Air Ambulance travel is Contact: The Met on 131 638 (cost of a local available to you and your dependants in an call) or V/Line reservations and information on emergency or on recommendation of a 132 232 (cost of a local call). Medical Practitioner. Fee Waived for Car Registration for card Contact: Victorian Ambulance Service on holders or their dependant spouses with a limit 1300 366 141. of one vehicle per pensioner concession card. Victorian Patient Transport Assistance Scheme 50 Per Cent Reduction on Transport Injury provides financial assistance, covering both Insurance Premium (Transport Accident travel and accommodation, if you need to travel Charge) for card holders or their dependant 100 kilometres or more each way for medical, spouses with a limit of one vehicle per dental or other health treatment. pensioner concession card. Contact: Your nearest Regional Office of Contact: VICROADS – Concessional Registration the Department of Human Services on 131 171 (cost of a local call). (see Appendix II). Household 50 Per Cent off Council Rates up to a Transport maximum of $135 each year on the principal place of residence. Please note: Dependants are not entitled to Contact: Your local council. concession fares on public transport. Water and Sewerage Charges: 50 per cent off Concession Fares are available on trams, each rate up to a maximum of $67.50 each year. trains and buses in Metropolitan Melbourne Water Consumption: 50 per cent off sewage and V/Line coach and country bus services. disposal bill up to a maximum of $67.50 per One Free Economy Class Return Trip on any annum or the unused portion of the sewerage Public Transport Corporation service anywhere rates concession (whichever is the lower). in Victoria during year of issue using your Contact: Present card when paying bill or call Pensioner Free Travel voucher. your local water authority. Railway Travel Concessional Fares for railway 17.5 per cent off winter energy bill for gas and travel on main railway lines between Perth and electricity, between May and November. Show Brisbane (via Broken Hill or Melbourne) and to your card when paying in person or contact Alice Springs (via Kalgoorlie or Coonamia). your electricity or gas company to register for For interstate travel between Melbourne and the concession. Perth (via Broken Hill or Alice Springs) contact Non-mains winter energy: A rebate is available Great Southern Railway on 132 147. For travel for people who use $120 or more on LP Gas from Brisbane or Melbourne to New South per annum and/or who are individually metered Wales contact Countrylink on 132 232. for electricity but pay a caravan park or Blind Person’s Travel Pass entitles the holder accommodation proprietor. Contact your local to free first class travel on all trains, trams and gas distributor, local council or the Department buses in Victoria. Interstate travel is available at of Human Services on 1800 133 014. the published concession fare. Further details Telephone Concessions: Telstra also offers its regarding fares for attendants may be obtained own concessions which may be available to you from the V/Line number listed below. upon application. These include:
10 A Guide to Services for Senior Victorians 2002 New service connection fees reduced by $50. Commonwealth In-place service connection fees reduced Seniors by $25. A 40 per cent discount on the first 10 local Health Card calls made each month.