Family members and carers can access support, training, and financial assistance to help their loved ones through several major Australian programs. [1, 2, 3, 4]
š° Financial Support for Products
- Continence Aids Payment Scheme (CAPS): An annual direct payment of up to $695.10 (adjusted yearly) paid into the person’s bank account to help purchase products. The loved one must be aged 5+ with permanent and severe incontinence meeting specific medical criteria.Ā [5, 6, 7, 8, 9]Ā
- National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS): If the loved one is under 65 and an NDIS participant, their plan can fully fund continence health assessments, professional training for the family, and all required pads, pants, or catheters.Ā [10, 11]Ā
- My Aged Care: For loved ones aged 65 and over (or 50+ for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people), Home Care Packages can cover the cost of continence products and hiring personal care workers to assist with toileting.[12, 13, 14, 15, 16]Ā
š Professional Guidance & Training
- National Continence Helpline (1800 33 00 66): Free, confidential advice from Nurse Continence Specialists who can coach family members on skin care, product selection, and daily management routines. [17, 18, 19, 20]
- Carer Gateway (1800 422 737): A dedicated government service providing free coaching, counseling, respite care services, and peer support groups specifically for family carers to prevent burnout.Ā [21, 22, 23, 24, 25]Ā
- Local Continence Clinics: Public health clinics across Australia provide free assessments by specialists who create customized toileting plans and teach families how to correctly fit aids.Ā [26]Ā
š ļø Practical Tools
- The Continence Foundation of Australia: Offers free online resources, video guides, and brochures specifically written for carers on how to manage specialized hygiene. [27]
- National Public Toilet Map: A website and smartphone app to help families plan outings by showing accessible public toilets, adult change tables, and MLAK-locked facilities across Australia.Ā [28, 29, 30, 31, 32]Ā
[2] https://www.tricare.com.au
[4] https://www.portphillip.vic.gov.au
[5] https://www.continence.org.au
[6] https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au
[7] https://caremmunity.com.au
[8] https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au
[9] https://www.continence.org.au
[10] https://www.phomecare.com.au
[11] https://gentlecareservices.com.au
[12] https://www.paralogic.com.au
[13] https://www.portphillip.vic.gov.au
[16] https://joyamedicalsupplies.com.au
[17] https://www.continence.org.au
[19] https://www.continence.org.au
[20] https://www.careworkers.org.au
[21] https://www.auntygrace.com.au
[23] https://www.carergateway.gov.au
[25] https://www.carergateway.gov.au
[26] https://www.continence.org.au
[27] https://www.health.qld.gov.au
[28] https://www.continence.org.au
[29] https://www.healthdirect.gov.au
[31] https://acd.org.au
Leave a Reply