Community Health

Meals on Wheels is available to people who are unable to manage cooking duties and require support to maintain an adequate diet. Meals may be provided for a few days, several weeks, or on an ongoing basis, depending on individual needs. Meal costs are kept as affordable as possible and are reviewed annually.

Meals are delivered hot between 11:30am and 1:00pm to consumers living within Timboon and Cobden. Consumers must be home to receive their meal unless alternative arrangements have been made. In accordance with food safety regulations, meals cannot be left unattended, including in eskies or other containers.

Within Timboon, meals are available Monday to Friday and Cobden 7 days a week. Frozen meals can also be supplied to cover weekend requirements. For consumers living outside town boundaries, a weekly or short-term supply of frozen meals can be arranged through support services such as District Nursing or Community Care Workers. Alternatively, a family member or friend may collect and deliver meals to isolated consumers.

Each meal includes:

• Soup
• Main course
• Dessert

Menus operate on a rotating basis to provide variety. Special dietary requirements can be catered for, including diabetic, low-fat, low-cholesterol, and weight reduction diets.

Community Care Workers can assist with a range of household tasks that may have become difficult to manage independently. The service is designed to support consumers to maintain their independence while continuing to live safely and comfortably in their own home.

Domestic assistance may include:

• Ironing
• Washing and laundry support
• Making beds
• Vacuuming and mopping floors
• Cleaning bathrooms
• General household cleaning tasks within the home

Services are tailored to individual needs and focus on maintaining a safe and manageable living environment.

The lawn mowing service is provided on a rotating schedule every four to six weeks, depending on seasonal conditions and grass growth.

Please note that this service is only available to consumers who are living independently in their own home. The service is intended to support consumer safety and basic property maintenance, rather than garden beautification or landscaping. Priority is given to tasks that help maintain a safe and accessible environment in and around the home.

Timboon and District Healthcare Service can assist with minor home modifications to help improve safety and accessibility within the home, including the installation of rails and ramps.

An Occupational Therapist will conduct a home assessment and develop a suitable modification plan based on the consumer’s needs. A quote will then be provided, and once consent has been received from the consumer, the work will be arranged and completed.

For more extensive building modifications or structural alterations, consumers will need to engage an external qualified builder independently.

Community Care workers are trained to support consumers with a range of personal care activities to assist them in maintaining their independence and wellbeing at home. Services may include assistance with:

• Showering, bathing, dressing and undressing, and toileting
• Mobility support, including transfers in and out of bed, chairs, wheelchairs, or vehicles (where no lifting is required)
• Assistance with eating and drinking
• Incontinence support
• Medication prompting to support compliance with prescribed routines

All services are delivered respectfully and in accordance with each consumer’s individual care needs and preferences.

Respite services provide temporary relief for carers, helping to support and maintain the ongoing care relationship between the consumer and their carer. These services are designed to give carers time to rest, attend to personal commitments, or take a short break, while ensuring the consumer continues to receive appropriate care and support.

The Community Transport Service is designed to support older people and individuals living with disability to maintain their independence and remain connected with the community. Transport is available for essential local travel, including medical appointments and visits to necessary local services and businesses.

Timboon and District Healthcare Service provides this service for people who:

• Are unable to drive themselves or do not own a vehicle
• Do not have a partner, friend, or family member available to assist with transport
• Have limited access to, or are unable to afford, public transport options

To assist with scheduling and the coordination of volunteer drivers, bookings are essential. A minimum of:

• Two days’ notice is required for local trips
• Five days’ notice is required for longer-distance appointments or travel

Bookings can be made by contacting reception.

The Social Support Groups (SSG) in Timboon and Cobden are designed to support individuals to remain living independently at home and actively engaged within the community. The program offers a planned range of activities aimed at enhancing daily living skills while providing physical, intellectual, emotional, and social stimulation.

The groups also create valuable opportunities for social connection and provide respite support for carers.

Referrals to attend the program may be made through:

• My Aged Care
• Health professionals
• Family members or relatives
• Friends
• Self-referral

A Lifestyle Assessment is completed by the program coordinator when a participant commences in the program to ensure activities and supports are tailored to individual interests and needs.

Activities may include:

• Sing-alongs, entertainment, musicals, dances, plays, and films
• Card games
• Word stimulation games and quizzes
• Interaction with other planned activity groups
• Craft activities
• Croquet
• Board games
• Bingo and music bingo
• Group discussions and reminiscing
• Education sessions with guest speakers
• Outings and full-day trips
• BBQs and picnics

Timboon and District Healthcare Service Social Support Groups operate:

• In Cobden on Tuesdays and Wednesdays
• In Timboon on Thursdays and Fridays