April Newsletter

Hello Good People,

Welcome to another Newsletter.

As advised in the last newsletter, myself and the senior management team have been undertaking a detailed review of our schedule of fees over the past weeks.

It is never easy issuing pricing increases and I ask for your understanding, I pride myself on being as transparent with you all on such important matters affecting both yourselves and Everglow.

I am proud that we have been able to keep any increase to either nil or CPI for the past six (6) years. Something completely unique to Everglow in our sector.

Whilst you will see modest changes to our fees and its structure come the beginning of May, all clients will see minimal impact on your packages. We have benchmarked our pricing against 13 other providers in the market, realigned our schedule with the “Home Care Packages Program Operational Manual for Home Care Package consumers V1.1, Dated February 2021”, and audited our client unspent funds to ensure not one client is placed in an unfavorable position.

Another area of concern that will need to be addressed as these government mandated funding changes impact, is that of your unspent funds balances. It needs to be remembered that the Government assigned Package level is based on your assessed care needs.

This is an area Everglow will be working with you to address moving forward before the September change whereby the Government will commence managing and have visibility of your unspent funds balance.

These changes are what I have been advising all clients of over the past two years, so as not to come as a surprise to you.

It is our policy to provide the highest standard of care to you, so it is important that you are aware of these changes.

I provide you my commitment that Everglow will continue to:

· Only Charge modest fees for our services (benchmarked against provider pricing in MyAgedCare) and outlined in the Act.

· Not charge entry fees.

· Only charge the appropriate care and package management fees in line with the Home Care consumer manual.

· Not impose exit fees.

I have included below an extract from the “Home Care Packages Program Operational Manual for Home Care Package consumers V1.1, Dated February 2021” that outlines what a provider can charge to your government provided package. This will assist you in understanding the pricing schedule:

EXTRACT BEGINS

5.4 What costs can be charged by a provider to my package budget?

Each provider will have different costs associated with providing care and services. From 1 July 2019, providers must publish their pricing information for the services they provide on My Aged Care. The standardised Home Care Pricing Schedule is available on the ‘Find a provider’ tool. It will help you compare providers.

The pricing information that needs to be included in the Home Care Pricing Schedule includes the:

· basic daily fee amount (this is the amount the provider will charge you);

· care management costs and the approximate number of hours provided;

· prices for common services provided under a Home Care Package;

· staff travel costs to visit you;

· package management costs;

· maximum exit amount; and

· if there is a separate cost when you want to get services from a different provider.

If providers do not charge for these items, the price will show as $0 or N/A on the schedule. Providers cannot charge separately for business-related administration costs. These costs, such as office rent, insurance and marketing, must be included in the price for individual care and services. Providers also cannot charge for entry or establishment costs.

All providers must also make a full pricing list of all the home care services they offer available on My Aged Care. They should provide a copy to you before you enter into a Home Care Agreement. If you enter the Home Care Packages Program from 1 July 2019, your provider must include a copy of their Home Care Pricing Schedule in your Home Care Agreement. They must charge you the prices in the schedule, unless you agree otherwise.

Providers charge different prices for their services for a variety of reasons. As part of setting up your Home Care Agreement with your provider, you may be able to negotiate a different price to what is in their Schedule. Your provider must document any different prices, and the reason for the variation.

Your provider cannot charge you a price you have not agreed to for your care and services. If you entered the Program before 1 July 2019, your provider will contact you about these changes by 1 July 2020.

Again, they cannot make any changes to your Home Care Agreement without your agreement. This includes the prices they charge your package. EXTRACT ENDS

As always, I welcome any feedback from you in relation to your services or any opportunities for improvement.

Until next month, stay safe.

Wayne

A guide to wearing face masks

Well, COVID is having a return performance and all of us have asked that question

When are we to wear our masks?

The Australia Government has provided some guidelines which I would like to share with you.

· You must carry a face mask with you at all times when you leave home unless you have a lawful reason not to.

· You must wear a mask in indoor spaces, such as:

• shopping centres, supermarkets, retail outlets and indoor markets
• hospitals and aged care facilities
• hospitality venues such as restaurants and cafés (you can remove the mask while seated but need to use it when you get up e.g., ordering drinks from the bar etc.)
• churches and places of worship
• libraries
• indoor recreational facilities and gyms (except if doing strenuous exercise e.g., high-intensity interval training, cycling, running).
• indoor workplaces (where safe to wear a mask and you can’t physically distance)
• public transport, taxis and rideshare, including waiting areas and queues for this transport
• airports and travelling on planes.

• It is strongly recommended you wear a mask when outdoors if you are unable to stay more than 1.5m distance from other people, such as busy walkways and thoroughfares.

Face masks alone will not protect you from COVID-19. Social distancing is the gold standard of COVID-19 prevention methods, coupled with washing your hands regularly.

We understand there are situations where you may not be able to maintain social distancing. Keep a mask with you, so that if you get into one of those situations, you have some added protection. When attending a big event or travelling on public transport we strongly recommend you wear a mask especially when entering, exiting or moving through areas where lots of people are gathered.

Everglow and COVID

When our Personal Care Workers comes to your home they will:

• Ask our COVID screening questions and confirm that it is ‘safe’ to proceed with the service.
• Wear a mask during the service

In your home (during services not related to personal care) you may choose not to wear a mask. However, social distancing between yourself and the worker is essential.

Where Personal Care is provided the Case Manager will advise guidelines on a case by case basis.

For a social support service in the community, masks are required to be worn. If you are exempt from using the mask (see information below) please notify the Case Manager prior to the service. Additional procedures may be required in this circumstance.

Workers providing transport may only carry one (1) client in the vehicle at a time and they must be seated in the back seat on the passenger side. This ensures social distancing.

If there are special circumstances which affect you do not hesitate to contact your Case Manager. All services will be considered on a case-by-case basis to ensure your needs may be met within our COVID world

Exceptions to wearing a face mask, including:

• a person eating, drinking or taking medicine
• where visibility of the mouth is essential
• where a mask needs to be removed to clearly communicate
• a person with a particular medical condition or disability
• a person undergoing medical treatment
• if a person is asked to remove a face mask for identity purposes
• if wearing a mask creates a risk to a person’s health and safety
• for emergencies or when allowed by law
• in any circumstances when it’s not safe to wear a mask.

How to wear a mask

1. Clean your hands with soap and water or alcohol-based hand rub (made up of over 60% alcohol or 70% isopropanol) before you put on your mask.

2. Hold the mask by its tapes or loops, then tie the mask around your head or put the loops around your ears.

3. Make sure the mask completely covers your mouth and nose, and that there are no gaps between your face and the mask. If you are using a surgical mask, press the nose piece around your nose.

If you are using a mask with ear loops, you can use a plastic clip or tie to join the ends together at the back of your head to make sure it fits securely on your face.

Make sure that your mask does not have holes or a valve, as if you have COVID-19, you can breathe out the virus.

Do not touch your eyes, nose, or mouth or the front of the mask while wearing it.

If the mask gets soiled or damp, replace it with a new one.

Hints and tips for those of us wearing glasses -

Try one of these tips to help prevent your face mask from fogging your glasses:

• make sure your face mask is fitted and pinched on your nose if possible
• put your glasses on after your mask
• wash your glasses with detergent and water to create a film to prevent fogging
• use micropore tape (available at pharmacies) to tape the mask along the bridge of your nose and cheeks, then put your glasses on top
• put a folded tissue across the bridge of your nose, then put your mask on with your glasses on top.

DID YOU KNOW?

Gentle Exercise: Improves muscle strength and bone density reducing the risk of falls through improve balance. Activity that raises the heart rate increases blood flow to the heart and boost your overall health which can be beneficial for many chronic conditions. Maintaining a healthy weight and moving your body guided by qualified instructions promotes and improves ones confidence, socialisation and overall well-being.

Colour Therapy: Colouring relax the brain and can reduce anxiety and stress. Colouring also focused on direct attention, increases creativity and enhances motor skills. Colouring is relaxing, peaceful and interactive offering socialization and inclusion. This is also a great activity to make memories for your self and your loved ones and art makes a great keepsake.

Music Memories: Music and song lifts your spirits and releases happy emotion while improving speech and cognitive skills. As well as improving memory, music allows us to remember wonderful times of the past. Music and song can improve respiration, lower blood pressure, improve cardiac output and relax muscle tension which increases your immunity and provide a workout for your brain and your lungs. Our music and song classes offer client the choice to play musical instruments, sing, listen and enjoy or do it all. Relaxing the brain and can reduce anxiety and stress . colouring can also focused on direct attension , increases creativity and enhances motor skills this also a great activity to make memories for you seld 

See Below for the Time and Date of our activities

Monthly Functions And Weekly Activities.

Ayr

Friendship Craft Group - Last Friday of Every Month at 9:00 am (Cost: $5.00)

Morning Tea is provided following all classes. Please call our friendly team  on 4728 2540 for more information on the venues of the above activities      

Ayr Monthly Function  ( Townsville Shopping Trip) 

Date: Thursday 22nd April 2021 

Venue: Willow Shopping Centre & Lunch at RSL

Time: 08:00 am - 03.30pm

Cost $39.00

Please call the office on 4728 2540 to RSVP by 16th April 2021 

Italian Movie & Morning Tea (Johnny Stecchino with English Subtitles

Date: Tuesday 27th April 2021 

Venue:  Stardust Drive-In

Time: 109.30am

Cost: $15.00

Please call the office on 4728 2540 to RSVP by 22nd April 2021

Townsville                                              

Gentle Exercise - Every Monday 9:30 am and 11:30 am and Every Friday 9:30 am and 11:30 am 

Colouring Therapy - Every Tuesday 10:00 am - 11:00 am

Music Memories - Every Thursday 11:30 am - 1:30 pm 

Mind Matters - Every Wednesday 10:00 am - 12:00 pm 

First Session is Free 

Morning Tea is provided following all classes. Please call our friendly team on 4725 1822 for more information on the venues of the above activities.  

Antique Roadshow Morning Tea  (Theme: Bring along an interesting item or Antique to share the history and great stories. 

Date: Tuesday 13th April 2021     

Time: 09:00 am - 11:00 am 

Venue: West End Tea House and Gallery  17 Echlin Street, West End  

Cost: 18.00  

Please call the office on 4725 1822 to RSVP by Friday 9th April 2021   

Meet & Greet Anzac Day Outing and Lunch

Date: Thursday 22nd April 2021 

Shopping Morning with Everglow Ayr and Everglow Townsville Clients at Willows  Shopping Centre from 09:00 am till 11:00 am and followed by Anzac Day Lunch with Ayr Everglow Clients at Thuringowa RSL from 12:30 pm till 02:00 pm.

Lunch Cost: 12.00

Menu Inc: Roast of the Day and Vegetables, Chefs Pasta of the Day, Fish & Chips with Salad, Chicken Schnitzel, Chips and Salad

Please call the office on 4725 1822 to RSVP by Monday 19th April 2021                                                                    

Ingham

Gentle Exercise - Every Tuesday 10:00 am - 11:30 am 

Craft - 7th and 21st April 9:00 am - 11:30 am 

Bingo - 9th April 09:30 am - 11:30 am 

Hoy /Cent Sale - 23rs April 09:30 am - 11:30 am 

Dance Well -  1st , 22nd and 29th April 10:00 am - 11:15 am

First Session is Free 

Morning Tea is provided following all classes. Please call our friendly team  on 4776 2296 for more information on the venues of the above activities   

Everglow Information Session

Date: Wednesday 14th April 2021

Time: 10:30 am - 12:30 pm 

Venue: Ingham RSL

Please call the office on 4776 2296 to RSVP by Friday 9th April 2021

April Luncheon

Date: Friday 16th April 2021 

Time: 11:30 am - 01:30 pm 

Venue: Ingham RSL

Cost: $20.00 

Please call the office on 4776 2296 to RSVP by Tuesday 20th April 2021

Gardening Chat

Date: 30th April 2021

Time: 09:30 am -11:30 am

Venue: Everglow Ingham (Social Area)

Cost: $10.00

Give us a call for more information about our services and products.