Omeo District Health Annual Report 2005/06

The service maintains strong links with other
agencies such as Bairnsdale Primary Mental
Health Service and Gippsland Lakes
Community Health Drug & Alcohol Service.
Emergency Housing
ODH undertakes a coordination role for the
Omeo District Transitional House on behalf of
Community Housing Limited.
Staff also have the option of issuing short stay
motel vouchers for crisis accommodation.
The use of the transitional house increased
this year due largely to the role of the
Counsellor in identifying appropriate clients
with housing issues.
Home Care
The home care program is aimed at assisting
frail aged people and people with disabilities
to remain living independently at home in a
community environment.
Services encompassed by the Home Care
service include:-
• Housekeeping,
• Personal care,
• Respite care,
• Home maintenance, and
• Meals on Wheels.
In the first full year of operation at ODH,
having transferred from Gippsland Lakes
Community Health in April 2005, the home
care program provided services to 68 clients.
The service is provided by 10 part time home
care workers across the district and
administered by a 0.7EFT coordinator role.
A client survey conducted in August 2005
showed a high level of satisfaction in the
quality of the service, and also in the process
of transition of the program from Gippsland
Lakes Community Health to Omeo District
Health.
Planned Activity Group
The planned activity group program is aimed
at the Home & Community Care target group
(frail aged persons and people living with
disabilities in the community). The program
operates in Omeo one day per week and
provides opportunities for social interaction,
outings, organised activities, and includes the
provision of a healthy meal.
The input of volunteers is an invaluable
contribution to planned activity group both in
transportation of participants to the venue
and assisting with activities and food
preparation on the day.
The group trialed a session at the Albion
Hotel in Swifts Creek earlier this year. This
was a successful trial and is likely to be
repeated on a regular basis in the future.
Occupational Therapy
The main aim for occupational therapy
services in the community health team is to
facilitate independent living in the
community, particularly for people with
health problems or restrictions due to
disability or frailty.
Interventions include:-
• Home safety and home modification
assessments,
• Specialist equipment provision,
• Increasing physical access to public
facilities,
• Advice on management of particular
disorders,
• Support for carers, and
• A broad health promotion focus such
as health education and provision of
gentle exercise programs.
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