My Aged Care Allied Healthcare Services

My Aged Care Funding for Exercise Physiology Services:

An older adult on a Home Care Package or the Commonwealth Home Support Programme needs help with a variety of tasks in their home - from personal care to household chores. Did you know exercise physiology can be a valuable service for these tasks? Exercise physiologists help improve an older adult’s physical, mental, and emotional health. This leads to a better quality of life and independence, also known as healthy aging, which reduces the need for other home assistance services.

Exercise physiology is the science of how the body moves and how exercise affects health and wellbeing. Exercise physiologists design and deliver exercise programs that are safe, effective, and tailored to the individual needs of people of all ages and abilities, including seniors. Exercise physiologists also provide education to empower elderly people to own and improve their healthy aging. 

We provide exercise physiology services for home care package recipients, which offer a number of healthy aging benefits, including:

An exercise physiologist can play a crucial role in helping someone over the age of 65 maintain their independence and stay in their own home. Here are several ways in which an exercise physiologist can assist:

1. Physical Assessment:

Conduct a comprehensive functional assessment to identify areas of strength and areas that may need improvement. This assessment includes evaluating balance, mobility, flexibility, and overall physical function.

2. Customised Exercise Programs:

Develop personalised exercise programs tailored to the individual's specific needs, taking into account any existing health conditions, mobility challenges, and fitness goals. These programs can focus on improving strength, flexibility, and balance. Exercise physiologists help elderly people develop safe and effective exercise programs that meet their individual needs and goals. This can help improve their physical fitness, reduce their risk of chronic diseases, and improve their overall health and well-being. For example, an exercise physiologist might work with an elderly client who has a home care package to develop an exercise program that includes walking, strength training, and balance exercises. These forms of exercise need to be carried out in a safe manner, and this is where an exercise physiologist’s expertise would be advantageous.

3. Fall Prevention Strategies:

Implement fall prevention strategies through targeted exercises and activities that enhance balance and coordination. This is essential for reducing the risk of falls, a common concern for older adults. Our Home Care Package exercise physiologists teach elderly people exercises that can help improve their balance and coordination, which can help reduce their risk of falls. This is especially important for elderly people who, for a number of reasons, are at an increased risk of falls. For example, an exercise physiologist might teach an elderly client how to safely perform strengthening and stretching exercises in a standing position, which can help improve balance and coordination. The exercise physiologist would also find the different body positions where the elderly person is at their worst balance and work on preventing these positions from occurring, or strengthening the body in this position to prevent the loss of balance.

4. Improved Mobility:

Design exercises to enhance mobility and maintain functional independence. Improved mobility takes the pressure off of the joints, helps to prevent injuries, improves posture, balance, coordination and gait, enhances circulation, relieves stress, which all results in decreased pain levels. This all promotes ease of movement and ability to perform activities of daily living which creates a higher quality of life

5. Home Environment Assessment:

Conduct an assessment of the individual's home environment to identify potential hazards or obstacles that may contribute to accidents or limitations in mobility. Provide recommendations for modifications or adaptations to enhance safety.

6. Strength Training:

Include strength training exercises to maintain muscle mass, strength, and balance. This is vital for supporting daily activities and reducing the risk of frailty. Strength training improves confidence and self-esteem, emotional resilience, stress relief, sense of accomplishment, and the feeling of masculinity for males.

7. Cardiovascular Fitness:

Prescribe cardiovascular exercises that are appropriate for the individual's fitness level. Improving cardiovascular fitness contributes to overall health and endurance, allowing for better engagement in daily activities.

8. Cognitive Health:

Integrate exercises that support cognitive health, as maintaining cognitive function is crucial for independent living. Activities that involve coordination, memory, and decision-making can be beneficial.

9. Mental Health:

Exercise is known to have a positive impact on mental health. Exercise physiologists help elderly people find ways to incorporate exercise into their lives as a way to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. For example, an exercise physiologist might work with an elderly client who is feeling depressed to develop an exercise program that includes activities such as walking, stretching, and gardening. The goal the exercise physiologist would have for this program would be to make it fun, encourage social interaction, be patient and supportive.

10. Manage Chronic Disease:

Exercise physiologists work with elderly people who have chronic diseases such as osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, diabetes, and heart disease to develop exercise programs that can help manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life. For example, an exercise physiologist might work with a senior who has heart disease to develop an exercise program to lower blood pressure that includes aerobic exercise such as walking, cycling and swimming to strengthen the heart and improve cardiovascular health. Strength training helps to build muscle mass for people of all ages, even seniors, which reduces the amount of stress on your heart, increases the metabolism which can help you achieve healthy weight (gain or loss), and reduces the amount of body fat around your wait, which is a risk factor for heart disease.

11. Motivation and Education:

Provide ongoing motivation and education about the importance of staying active and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Address any concerns or misconceptions about aging and exercise.

12. Functional Training:

Implement functional training exercises that mimic daily activities. This helps ensure that the individual can perform routine tasks with greater ease and confidence. Exercise physiologists provide elderly people with education and support about the benefits of exercise and how to incorporate it into their daily lives. For example, an exercise physiologist might teach an elderly client about the benefits of exercise, then work together to create an exercise program that is right for them - taking into account their health history, barriers, and goals. Continued motivation and support would be provided throughout the treatment period to encourage healthy aging and empower the client to know how to make healthier lifestyle choices about their physical activity.

13. Supervising, Monitoring, Encouraging, and Adjusting:

Initially supervise and demonstrate exercises at home to ensure proper technique and safety. Provide guidance on how to gradually increase exercise intensity as fitness improves. Monitor progress regularly and make adjustments to the exercise program as needed. This may involve modifying exercises, introducing new activities, or addressing any emerging health concerns. Elderly people often have a variety of needs and limitations. Our exercise physiologists are flexible (not just through our body 😉, but also our approach to care) and adaptable in our approach to helping elderly people exercise. For example, an exercise physiologist might work with an elderly client who has difficulty walking, to develop an exercise program that includes chair exercises and water exercises. These types of exercises could be the short-term goal with the longer-term goal to be to return to standing exercises, over time and if appropriate. Elderly people may need more time and encouragement with their exercise program. Our exercise physiologists are patient and encouraging which helps elderly people achieve their goals over a timeframe that is suitable to their individual circumstances. Someone who isn’t trained in this can cause all sorts of negative emotions for the elderly person, which is not helpful. For example, an exercise physiologist might work with an elderly client who is hesitant to start exercising. The exercise physiologist would help them set realistic goals support them and encourage small, daily increases in physical activity. The long game is what is important here - not necessarily a “quick fix” approach that won’t have long-lasting benefits.

14. Surgery Preparation and Rehabilitation:

Our exercise physiologists assist elderly people on a Home Care Package who have been injured or had surgery to recover their strength, mobility, and overall function. This helps them return to their normal activities sooner, maintain their independence, and improve their quality of life. If the surgery is planned ahead of time, engagement in a “prehab program” is ideal. These programs prepare the body for the surgery, help the surgeon perform the procedure, and help make the rehab process much smoother and quicker. For example, an exercise physiologist might work with an elderly client who is about to have, or has already undergone a knee replacement surgery. The exercise physiology approach would be to firstly assess the entire body, not just the knee. Very frequently we see the root cause of knee replacements to be caused from a separate body part (eg: foot, ankle or hip) to not be functioning correctly. The poor knee then spends years compensating for this and suffers extra wear and tear, causing the joint to end up needing to be replaced. Fixing the root cause of the issue is commonly be overlooked by other professions. Whilst adhering to the root cause, our exercise physiologist would also include exercises to strengthen the supporting musculature around the knee to aid in the prehab and/or rehab or the surgical intervention.

15. Collaboration with other Healthcare Professionals Who are a Part of the Healthcare Team:

Collaborate with other healthcare professionals, such as physiotherapists or occupational therapists, to ensure a holistic approach to addressing health and mobility concerns. Our exercise physiologists know how to work within a person's care team - it’s embedded in our training and culture and is a big part of the reason as to why The Allied Health Team was created. When all the healthcare professionals are working together, this ensures the holistic approach is safe and effective. For example, an exercise physiologist might work with an elderly client who has a heart condition and would coordinate their exercise program with their cardiologist and dietitian.

16. Family and Caregiver Involvement:

Involve family members and caregivers in the exercise program to create a supportive environment and ensure consistency in promoting physical activity.

By addressing physical fitness, safety, and overall well-being, an exercise physiologist can significantly contribute to an older adult's ability to remain independent and stay in their own home. The goal is to enhance functional capacity, promote confidence, and support a fulfilling and active lifestyle.

Exercise prescription provided by one of our exercise physiologists will promote an overall enhanced level of independence and help a Home Care Package recipient stay active in their community for longer. When you think of improving a person’s overall lifestyle, think of exercise physiology.

Tip: the longer you can delay the use of aids such as wheelie walkers and “mobility” scooters for an elderly person, and instead promote physical activity, the better their health and wellbeing will be.
Of course there is a time and place for the use of aids, just please don’t let it be the first option - the human body is designed to move, so encourage physical activity in a safe manner. This is what an exercise physiologist is trained to do, and can prescribe for a Home Care Package recipient.  

If your loved one has Home Care Package funding or you are a Home Care Package provider, you should consider engaging an exercise physiologist as they will be a valuable addition to the healthcare team. Our exercise physiologists have an understanding of the benefits of all other allied health services, which means we can collaborate with other professionals who are in the healthcare team, even if they aren’t from within The Allied Health Team.

For more information, or to speak with one of our friendly team members, you can contact us by clicking on the phone number or calling 1300 AH TEAM (that’s 1300 24 8326). 

If you’d prefer to send us the information of the person you’d like us to assist, you can complete this online form.
Please locate the My Aged Care Assessment paperwork, as we will ask for this before attending the initial appointment so we can best prepare for it.

For information on more specific topics, you can check out our blog page.

My Aged Care Funding for Nutrition and Dietetic Services:

An older adult on a Home Care Package or the Commonwealth Home Support Programme needs help with a variety of tasks in their home - from personal care to household chores. Dietetic services play a vital role in healthy aging and helping an elderly adult stay strong and independent. A dietitian helps improve an older adult's physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing.

Dietetics is the science of food and how it affects healthy aging. Dietitians design and deliver personalised nutrition plans that are safe, effective, and tailored to the individual needs and goals of people of all ages and abilities, including elderly people. Dietitians also provide education and support to help seniors make healthy food choices when fueling their body.

The Allied Health Team offer dietetic services for Home Care Package recipients that offer a number of benefits, including:

1. Assess nutritional needs. Our home care package funded dietitians assess nutritional needs for seniors to identify any areas where they may be at risk of malnutrition. Our dietitians create a personalised meal plan that meets the individual need of the person. This can also include prescribing and helping the elderly person access nutritional supplements such as Sustagen, Resource, and Ensure. For example: A 75 year old woman has been experiencing weight loss and fatigue. Our dietitian would assesses her nutritional needs and may find that she is not getting enough protein and iron and would create a meal plan that includes foods rich in these nutrients.

2. Manage chronic conditions. Our dietitians help elderly people manage chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure by providing personalised dietary advice. For example: A 68 year old man has who has diabetes is seen by our dietitian, who helps him create a meal plan that is low in sugar and carbohydrates. Our dietitian also teaches him how to read food labels and make healthy choices at the grocery store.

3. Support weight gain. Our dietitians can help Home Care Package funded elderly people gain weight in a safe, effective, and healthy manner. Our dietitian would also help you overcome any barriers you may be facing in your weight gain journey. This is one of the most common reasons we help people who are on a Home Care Package. An example of this would be a 85 year old woman who needs to gain weight to improve her health. Our dietitian would create a meal plan that is high in calories and nutrients. This may include eating small, frequent meals throughout the day and maybe even healthy snacks in between meals. If the elderly lady is unable to eat solid foods then high caloric shakes/smoothies and meal replacement powders might be the way to go. Motivation and support would also be provided through the treatment period.

4. Improve food intake and maintain a healthy weight. When an elderly person has difficulty eating due to illness, disability, or other factors, our dietitian can help them improve food intake and maintain a healthy weight. Our dietitian can also help choose foods that are both healthy and enjoyable. For example: Our dietitian helps a 90 year old man who has difficulty chewing and swallowing. We help him choose foods that are soft and easy to eat and provide him with tips on how to make mealtimes more enjoyable.

5. Prevent foodborne illness. Our dietitians can teach seniors how to prevent foodborne illness by following safe food handling practices. This is especially important for people of that age bracket as they are at an increased risk of foodborne illness. For example, a 78 year old woman has recently been diagnosed with cancer and is undergoing chemotherapy, which has weakened her immune system. Our dietitian would teach her how to prevent foodborne illness by following safe food handling practices.

6. Choose foods that are high in nutrients and low in calories for weight loss or healthy weight management. Our dietitians can help an elderly person choose foods that are packed with nutrients but low in calories, which can help with weight loss, or maintaining a healthy weight. This includes helping to create a healthy meal plan that fits a budget and lifestyle. An example of this could be a 65 year old woman is trying to lose weight. She sees our dietitian who helps her choose foods that are high in nutrients but low in calories. We also provides her with recipes and meal ideas that she can enjoy.

7. Plan and prepare meals that are both healthy and enjoyable. Our Home Care Package dietetic services can elderly people plan and prepare meals that are both healthy and enjoyable, which means they’ll be more likely to stick to their healthy eating plan. This includes providing recipes and meal ideas that fit the dietary needs and preferences of the elderly person. For example: an 85 year old man lives alone and has difficulty cooking. Our dietitian has an appointment with him and helps him plan and prepare meals that are both healthy and enjoyable. Our dietitian also provides him with recipes and meal ideas that he can prepare quickly and easily.

8. Make sure enough fluids are being consumed. This is essential for good health. Fluids help to keep the body hydrated, regulate body temperature, lubricate joints, prevent constipation, flush out toxins. An example of this is a 70 year old woman has been experiencing constipation. Our dietitian asks her some questions and discovers she isn’t drinking enough water. Our dietitian educates her on how to make sure that she is getting enough fluids and provides tips on how to increase her fluid intake.

9. Overcome barriers to eating healthy. Dietitians can help overcome barriers to eating a healthy diet, such as limited mobility or difficulty shopping for groceries. This would also include resources and support to help the senior make healthy changes to their diet. For example: an 80 year old woman has limited mobility and difficulty shopping for groceries. Our dietitian would help her overcome these barriers by educating her on how to make healthy choices with the various meal and grocery delivery services in her local area. In this scenario, our dietitian would also recommend an exercise physiologist comes out to see this elderly lady to help improve her mobility.

If your loved one has Home Care Package funding or you are a Home Care Package provider, you should consider engaging one of our dietitians as they will be a valuable addition to their healthcare team. Our dietitians have an understanding of the benefits of all other allied health services, which means we can collaborate with other professionals who are in the overall healthcare team, even if they aren’t from within The Allied Health Team.

For more information, or to speak with one of our friendly team members, you can contact us by clicking on the phone number or calling 1300 AH TEAM (that’s 1300 24 8326). 

If you’d prefer to send us the information of the person you’d like us to assist, you can complete this referral form.
Please locate the My Aged Care Assessment paperwork, as we will ask for this prior to attending the initial appointment so we can best prepare for it.

For information on more specific topics, you can check out our blog page.

Referral Form

If you know what services you would like and are ready to start the process, you can give us a call on 1300 AH TEAM or complete our online referral form. Please have the My Aged Care Assessment paperwork ready as we will require it prior to the first appointment.