Healthy Ageing Newsletter- Spring 2014
In this edition
- Mayor’s message
- Fire Safety in the home
- National Meals on Wheels
- October marks Community Safety Month
- Seniors Festival 2014
- Home Care Packages
- A very happy birthday!
- Common HACC Questions
Mayor’s message
Spring is in the air and it’s time to get out and get active.
The Moonee Valley Seniors Festival is coming up soon, with a wide range of free events and activities throughout October. I encourage you to attend as many events as you can and I look forward to meeting you at some of the events.
Council offers many services for our residents – so many that you might not know about them all! Our website offers details on a variety of programs and events that we run, as well as information about consultations and issues affecting Moonee Valley. Be sure to take a look.
Cr Jan Chantry, Moonee Valley Mayor
Fire safety in the home
A cold and blustery day didn't stop over one hundred residents and their carers attending the Community Fire Safety at Home Luncheon that was opened by Mayor Cr Jan Chantry at the Strathmore Bowling Club on 25 June.
Council has worked in partnership with Melbourne Fire Brigade over the last three years to promote fire safety through the campaign of ‘Change your clock, change your smoke alarm battery’. John Cannon from the Melbourne Fire Brigade gave an informative presentation on fire safety in the home, including tips and guidance on how to prepare the household to prevent fire. It wasn’t all serious though, as everyone sang along with James Cisco using song sheets and enjoyed a dancing demonstration.
In brief
National Meals on Wheels
National Meals on Wheels Day was celebrated on 27 August. Over the last financial year, Council’s 25 staff members and 43 volunteers from Community Meals have provided 67,929 meals to 584 residents.
There are limited number of placemats and mugs that Council is giving away during September. Please call 9243 8701 for more information.
October marks Community Safety Month
Council together with Victoria Police have developed a Community Safety Register.
The register provides a service whereby residents who are living alone, who are socially isolated, at risk or who have a disability, can nominate to receive regular phone calls from volunteers to check that they are safe and well.
The register also contains next of kin details of registered Moonee Valley residents.
For more information about the register or to volunteer contact Council on 9243 8888 or visit mvcc.vic.gov.au
Seniors Festival 2014
For more information about the events and activities planned for the festival visit mvcc.vic.gov.au/seniorsfestival or call 9243 8888
Strathmore Men’s Shed come and try
With spring upon us, what better time to build your own planter box! At this free Moonee Valley Men’s Shed workshop a facilitator will guide you through how to build a planter box that can be used to grow vegetables or herbs
When: Monday, 20 October, 1pm-3pm
Where: Strathmore Heights Community Centre, 1 Boeing Road, Strathmore Heights
Free movie at Village Cinemas
Enjoy a complimentary screening of a new release blockbuster movie. Show your Seniors Card at either of the allocated session times for free entry. Places are limited. Further details about these screenings will be posted on our website closer to the dates.
When: Session 1 – Friday, 17 October, 10.30am
Session 2 – Wednesday, 29 October, 1.30pm
Where: Village Cinemas, Westfield Airport West
Try out your local leisure centre!
Learn about the benefits of exercising as you age, find out about seniors membership options, try some of the centres’ activities and sign up for a free trial pass. Complimentary refreshments will be provided.
When: Monday, 6 October, 1pm
Where: Windy Hill Fitness Centre, 74-84 Napier Street, Essendon
When: Friday, 17 October, 10.30am
Where: Ascot Vale Leisure Centre, Epsom Road, Ascot Vale
When: Monday, 27 October, 1pm
Where: East Keilor Leisure Centre, Quinn Grove, Keilor East
Flemington Community Centre Expo
Experience all that Flemington Community Centre has to offer with Chinese dancers, a community choir and delicious African cuisine. The expo will also include stall holders from local service providers.
When: Wednesday, 22 October, 10am-12 noon
Where: Flemington Community Centre, 25 Mt Alexander Road, Flemington
Home Care Packages
Changes to fees were introduced by the Federal Government on 1 July for residents who start receiving a Home Care Package.
I was already receiving a Home Care Package before 1 July, what does this mean for me?
If you were already receiving a Home Care Package before 1 July, then there are no changes to your fees.
I started receiving a Home Care Package after 1 July, what does this mean for me?
This change means that you can be asked to pay a basic fee and an income tested care fee.
If you receive a full Government pension, then you may be asked to pay the basic fee.
If you have income of $24,731.20 to $47,881.60, you can be asked to pay the basic fee and an income tested care fee which is capped at $5000 per year.
If you have income which is greater than $47,881.60, you can be asked to pay the basic fee and an income tested care fee which is capped at $10,000 per year.
For more information please speak to your Case Manager.
A very happy birthday!
Bert Walker, a long-time Strathmore resident celebrated his 100th Birthday on Friday, 23 May.
Bert married Dorothy in 1940 and they moved to Strathmore that year.
Bert has continued to live in the family home since Dorothy’s death in 2004 with the help of his carers and supportive family and neighbours. His birthday was celebrated with a visit from Mayor Cr Jan Chantry followed by a family gathering on the Sunday.
Bert says his secret to a long life is that he has never smoked or had an alcoholic drink, but has just kept breathing!
Common HACC Questions
My fruit trees need pruning. When can Home Maintenance prune them for me?
Council’s Home Maintenance service is not for garden makeovers, lawn mowing or fruit tree pruning
Council’s Home Maintenance Service is designed to improve the safety and accessibility of the home environment for people who are frail aged or with a disability. Pending the outcome of a living at home assessment, Council’s Home Maintenance can provide periodic service such as grass clearing in fire season, basic pruning for safe access.
Sometimes I don’t feel like cooking for myself, is there a way I can get meals delivered?
From time to time, for whatever reason, people need a break from cooking. This is where Community Meals can assist. Home delivered meals are available to Home and Community Care eligible residents 7 days a week.
Eligible residents can also enjoy some company while having a meal in one of our five lunch time cafes.
For more information please call 9243 8806.
What is Community Transport?
Community Transport is a Council run service to support our Home and Community Care eligible residents and there carers to connect with their local community venues, including neighbourhood centres, senior citizens clubs, community dining rooms, libraries, shopping centres, health and medical facilities.
What do I do if I don’t need the bus on my regular day?
Call our Community Meals and Transport team on 9243 8701 to cancel your trip no later than 9am on the day. You cannot cancel with the driver when they come to pick you up.
Why can’t I cancel at the door on the day?
This limits the opportunities for others to use the transport system. If your trip is not cancelled prior to the drivers arriving to pick you up, a non-cancellation fee of a return trip will incur.