Mornington Peninsula Post-Polio Support Group News May 2018
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No 264 May 2018 Mornington Peninsula Post-Polio Support Group Next mee'ng: Saturday, May 12, at 11am at the Informa'on office, Mornington, cnr Main and Elizabeth Sts, rear of the building. The next social ou'ng could be dinner or lunch on May 22, depending on weather and availability. For the record: mee'ngs are held on the second Saturday of raw month, with oungs - lunch or dinner - on the third Tuesday unless the mee'ng date is mid month. Please contact the secretary for confirma'on, venue and details, or if you need a li. In this edition Most of us being too old for support from NDIS need to apply for an Aged Care assessment and package. While there is a significant waiting list, more funding is expected in the Federal budget. For information on the packages and how to get them - p3/4. The Australian Electoral Commission has proposed to change the name of the seat of Melbourne Ports to Macnamara in recognition of the work of scientist and polio specialist Dame Jean Macnamara. Seeing this as a fine opportunity to raise awareness of post polio syndrome submissions have been made in support of the change. Those submissions from P5-7. Polio virus apparently killed dopamine producing neurons in the brain but researchers are finding new ways to restore memory. Daughter of Dame Jean Macnamara, Merran Meanwhile another happy band of Samuel with the portrait of her mother by Peter researchers have found that a low Churcher. Merran has been delighted by the mental energy may affect walking recognition of Dame Jean by the AEC patterns. P8 Commissioners. Stay alert out there - Ed MPPPSG Newsletter !1 No 264 May 2018 Secretary’s notes AT the April meeting Treasurer and Secretary reviewed the membership lists to ensure we were not continuing to send newsletters to people who have moved, resigned or are deceased. The list remains surprisingly healthy thanks to new members. We hope to find many more local polio survivors with the appointment of a Community Worker by Polio Australia and Polio Network Victoria for Victoria under a pilot plan, thanks to funding from Jill Pickering. The appointee is Stephanie Cantell, who comes from an Occupational Therapy background. Her role will be to work with the post polio community, attending meetings and workshops to help find people who have not come forward, raising public awareness of post polio. Thanks to Bruce’s accounting, a clear income for the book with postage costs separated allowed us to move to give a further $1500 to PNV for this year’s Polio Day. We have now contributed a total of $2500 with a healthy balance continuing to grow. The Secretary has nominated our group for a Delys Sergeant Age-Friendly Award through Mornington Peninsula Shire for the book project. Aim is to further raise awareness of post polio - and sell more copies of course! Had a cheery response congratulating us on the effort. Convenor Ian Bladon encouraged those attending the April meeting to talk about what they did over Easter. After that Wendy Bladon talked about her impressions of the Bayside meeting on Dealing with the System: Aged Care Packages etc. Wendy was most impressed by the number of polios attending (around 50) and the speakers. Ian has been to Polio Services Victoria and was impressed by the efficiency and friendliness of the team. He had a two hour appointment so was thoroughly assessed. We encouraged Graeme to make an appointment as his left leg is much weaker. He has been reading Polio Paradox, excited by the wealth of info. No-one was available for the April lunch which was subsequently abandoned with the Secretary diverted to Frankston Hospital with her Ian. He had a fall, leg infected, then pneumonia, but is home and much weller now. We discussed briefly the benefits of lunch or dinner outings during winter. We could also consider morning or afternoon teas at different locations to reduce effort. Polio Network Victoria meeting: Fran attended the April meeting of PNV at West Footscray in her role of editor of Polio Perspectives. The first stand alone edition has been printed and should be in the post directly. Given challenge of travel in winter months it was decided to hold PNV’s meeting via teleconferences for the June and August. Site visits are to be undertaken for this year’s Polio Day, due to be held in the metropolitan region after last year at Bendigo. The theme is We’e Still Here with speakers likely to tackle the mire of Aged Care Packages (18 month waiting list for assessments). See story P3/4 Susan Shaab was the Post Polio Victoria representative at the meeting. Susan said PPV has received a Continuity of Support grant from DHS to buy equipment and help with publication of the newsletter. The PNV meeting also decided to apply to take part in this year’s Seniors Festival in October at Fed Square to help raise awareness. MPPPSG Newsletter !2 No 264 May 2018 Budget to focus on funding more at-home aged care By ABC political correspondent Louise Yaxley May 2 Cutting the waiting list for older Australians needing aged care in their own homes will be a focus of next week's federal budget. More than 100,000 people are waiting for an aged care package, which provides up to $50,000 to spend on a range of services at home, rather than needing to move to a nursing home. Home-care package levels Basic care needs yearly subsidy up to approximately $8,000 Low level care needs - subsidy up to approx $14,500 Intermediate care needs, subsidy up to approx $32,500 High-level care needs subsidy up to approx $49,500 (The yearly subsidy value is paid by the Government to a provider chosen by the individual. The maximum Government contribution increases each year.) Source: myagedcare.gov.au Most of those people are waiting for one of the two highest-level packages and the delay can be for more than a year. Some of that group have been given a lower level of services as an interim measure, which means they receive either $8,000 or $15,000 a year. Federal Labor has been highlighting the plight of people with dementia who are among those with the need for high-level services. ABC News understands the budget will focus on about 60,000 people who have been approved for support but have not received any funding. Aged Care Minister Ken Wyatt has described home care as an "absolute priority”. "As a Government, we have heard very clearly from senior Australians across the country that they want to receive aged care services in their homes," Mr Wyatt told the National Press Club. Demand for home services growing The demand for services at home is growing much faster than for places in residential aged care facilities. Canberra pensioner Val Dobson, who has bad arthritis and heart problems, waited a year for her home care package to be approved. Sector expectation for older Australians to pay more However, the review of aged care report prepared for the Government last year warned it is not easy to accurately measure the demand for aged care places. The report said: While accurate assessments of demand are yet to be developed, the available evidence, including advice from sector stakeholders, reliably shows two things: • There is a need for more high-level care at home • Meeting projected future demand will need additional investment by government beyond that currently planned But funding that will be a test for the Government, which already spends $20 billion a year on aged care. Within the sector, there is an expectation aged Australians will be asked to pay more. Leading Age Services Australia's Sean Rooney said: "Part of the cost of providing care for older Australians needs to be met by the people receiving those services.” Council of the Ageing's Ian Yates said: "We have a situation where either the Government has to pay more, or the users of the service has to pay more, or probably some of both.” The clear preference for older people to stay in their own homes rather than move to a nursing home has increased the demand for respite services for family members who have been caring for them. MPPPSG Newsletter !3 No 264 May 2018 Commonwealth Home Support Package - details https://www.myagedcare.gov.au/help-home/home-care-packages Approx 30%-40% of the subsidy will be deducted in Admin/ Advisory Fees. Rate for services vary between Service Providers and types of service/care. Example of average costs a service provider for a fully managed Level 2 Package (subsidy $14, 500pa) Weekly Subsidy $ 284.55 Administration Fee $ 51.22 Core Advisory - $ 42.68 Available per week $ 190.65 The annual benefit for a level 2 package is approx $9900 you do not have to spend it all in one year and can preserve some funds to purchase/ rent / pay out of pocket expenses for items such as Calliper repairs/ replacement, power chairs, adjustable beds SWEP Client contributions. First Step To find out if you are eligible for a home care package or any other help at home services, call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422. The My Aged Care contact centre will ask you a series of questions to determine if you need an assessment by an Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT). Be honest tel the operator on the phone al about your condition, your prognosis and your living arrangements and ask for a commonwealth home support package If you do not pass this gate keeper no next step.