The Killara Centre is sponsored by the Shire of Northam and services are provided from funding received from the Health Department of WA Home and Community Care Program (HACC) and the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing National Respite for Carers Program (NRCP).

The Killara Centre receives funding to provide clients with a range of services that can be utilized to offer a flexible, carer focused mix of Day Care, Social Support and Respite options seven days a week. Working closely with the carer, providing a personalized approach enables services to be provided at times when they are required and can be changed with minimal notice to meet the changing needs of care or respite. These include early mornings, evenings, during business hours, weekends and overnights. Respite is short term planned and can meet most request for unplanned and emergencies. It can be at the Centre, in home or another venue. The Centre operates within the HACC and NRCP administrative and program guidelines, has the experience, demonstrated sound management approach and resource capacity to continue to offer overnight respite and expand the carer numbers, hours of services and extend the catchment area of service provision.

OBJECTIVES

• Enhance independence and quality of life by encouraging social interaction and practice of life skills within a caring environment.

• Provide a community based respite service.

TARGET POPULATION GROUPS

HACC

• Older and frail persons, with moderate, severe or profound disabilities;

• Younger persons with moderate, severe or profound disabilities; and

• Such other classes of persons as agreed upon by the Commonwealth Minister and State Minister; and

• The carers of the above persons.

• Those groups that have special needs and /or experience difficulties in accessing mainstream services, these groups include:

     -     People from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Backgrounds,

     -     Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people,

     -     People with dementia,

     -     People who are financially disadvantaged

     -     People living in rural and remote locations.

NRCP

Carers:

• Primary carers of frail aged older Australians, including people with dementia and people with dementia and challenging behaviours.

• Special needs groups will also be targeted as those having difficulty accessing appropriate respite care and include carers of people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds (CALD), Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders (ATSI), people who are financially disadvantaged and people living in rural and remote locations.

Employed Carers:

• Primary carers of frail aged older Australians, (65 years and over or 50 and over if indigenous), including people with dementia or people with dementia and challenging behaviours who are experiencing difficulty in maintaining or securing employment because of a lack of suitable respite care options.

• Special needs groups will also be targeted as those having difficulty accessing appropriate respite care and include carers of people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds (CALD), Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders (ATSI), people who are financially disadvantaged and people living in rural and remote locations.

GEOGRAPHICAL AREA COVERED

 HACC Funding –

• Older and frail persons and carers of those people – Shire of Northam

• Younger people with disabilities and carers of those people - Shire of Northam Toodyay, Cunderdin, York and Goomalling

NRCP Funding –

• Respite general and Respite for Working Carers and Overnight respite (one night episodes) – Shire of Northam.

NRCP funding –

• Overnight Block Respite (2 to 4 days) Shire of Northam with limited blocks to the Shires of Cunderdin, York, Goomalling and Toodyay.

ACCESS TO THE SERVICES PROVIDED

• Clients can self refer

• Referrals are accepted from family members or community agencies provided prior consent has been obtained from the client.

• The Coordinator then undertakes a formal assessment to ensure the person meets the eligibility criteria.

FEES FOR SERVICES PROVIDED

• Fees are calculated in accordance with the Health Department (HACC) fees policy

• Client fees will be calculated on income utilizing a fee schedule that incorporates a fee cap.

• The fee cap prevents clients with high or multiple needs from being charged more than the specific maximum amount of fees in a given period.

• As a guide the fee for a person on a full pension is –

     -   $6.50 meals (i.e. lunch meal and morning tea)

     -   $5.00 fee (Day Care per day or per hour for Respite.)                                             

     -   For outings the client pays $5.00 client bus fee and the cost of their meal and other costs if applicable.

• No client will be refused a service due to his or her inability to pay for the service.

• On enquiry or assessment for services the fee policy will be explained in full.

Note: Respite paid for by the Carer Respite Brokerage Program - may cover fees and meal costs. Carers will be informed prior to the respite period if any additional costs are required. Fees and payment policy applies. 

OPERATIONAL HOURS OF THE CENTRE

The Centre is open and the public can contact the Centre 8am to 5pm Monday to Friday.

• Respite services operate over seven days a week (i.e. services can be provided during business hours, early mornings, afternoons, evenings, overnights and on weekends.

• Day Care services operate 10am to 3pm Monday to Friday and on some weekends.

• Social support services are offered seven days a week.

TRANSPORT TO AND FROM CENTRE

• Transport is provided to and from the Centre utilizing a specially modified bus with a wheelchair hoist or a station wagon.

• Clients can if they choose use alternative means of transport to attend the Centre.

CENTRE ACTIVITIES

In the Centre there is a large general activity room a small activity room as well as rooms that can accommodate clients who are booked into overnight respite. The outdoor area has a secure yard and another large activity room that can be opened up to incorporate the outdoor area or activities.

A variety of activities and outings are offered and clients participate in the selection of these.

All programs incorporate outings and there are additional specific programs –

• Walkabout Outing Group - for the aged, need to be mobile and not need high level of care. Outing once a month
• Men’s Outing Group – men only outings twice a month.
• Small group outings

SUMMARY

The Killara Centre, for the past two years, has been able to offer to carer’s short term overnight respite and other respite options including supporting employed carers. Because of the established mix of funded services and infrastructure available, the carers are offered a flexible mix of respite options that extend the time the care recipient is in the care of Centre staff.

The Centre has demonstrated that it has the expertise to provide support for those carers who, because of the challenging or inappropriate behaviour and/or dementia and high dependency needs of the care recipient, cannot access regular residential respite or who do not choose residential respite as the preferred option. The result has been the increased numbers of carers being assisted and the care recipient has remained at home far longer due to the type of support Killara and other agencies provide to the carer.

For further information or a copy of the fact sheet, contact the Coordinator, Chris Martin, at The Killara Centre on 9622 5765, or email killara@northam.wa.gov.au.