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Help to stay at home for people with a chronic disease

If you’re living with a chronic disease it helps to be informed about your condition and participate in your care through self-management programs (more information). In this part of the website we’ve collected information on useful services, as well as the seven chronic health problems that governments have made into National Health Priorities. These include asthma, cancer, cardiovascular health, diabetes, injury prevention, mental health, arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions, and dementia.

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Independent Living Centres

Independent Living Centres are information resource centres that display a range of products and equipment to assist with daily living activities. You, your carer and friends are welcome to come and try out products on display and talk to the centre’s occupational therapists on their info-lines. You’ll find that the staff at these centres are trained to match products and services to your requirements and can help you locate suppliers of special-needs equipment.

Stay at home programs

If you have a chronic disease, there are many programs that can help you maintain your independence at home and in the community so you can avoid inappropriate admission into an aged care home. These include the Home and Community Care program (HACC) (more information), Extended Aged Care at Home packages (EACH) (more information), Extended Aged Care at Home Dementia packages (EACH D) (more information) and the Community Aged Care Package (CACP) (more information).

Read more: About help to stay at home programs

Allied health care

There are many allied health services like physiotherapy, osteopathy, psychology and other selected alternative therapies that may be helpful in treating chronic diseases. Some of these may be included in a community care program, or included in the Medicare rebate.

Read more: About allied health care

Medicare Benefits Schedule

Primary Care Items support primary care services including: general attendances, after-hours attendances, health assessments, nurse practitioners, chronic disease management and mental health care.

Aged care homes

These cater for the needs of people with chronic diseases who are no longer able to look after themselves in their own environment. Homes offer special help with particular conditions such as dementia.

Read more: About help with aged care homes

Self-management of chronic conditions

If you suffer from a chronic disease you may be able to attend specifically designed training courses for people with long-term health conditions.
Life can also be made easier by:
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Asthma

Asthma is a chronic, inflammatory disorder of the airways. People with asthma experience episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness and coughing. If you have asthma symptoms you should talk to your doctor or respiratory specialist for assessment and to sevelop a written action plan. Your local community pharmacist can also be very helpful with advice on asthma medications, delivery devices and general asthma information. Your local hospital or community health centre may also offer support services or direct you to local services such as specialist asthma educators.

You’ll be interested to know that there’s an Asthma Foundation in each state or territory, which gives you access to support groups, advice lines, asthma information brochures and a range of asthma devices that are for sale. To contact your local foundation, call Asthma Australia 1800 645 130. You can also contact another helpful organisation, the National Asthma Council Australia, on 1800 032 495.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a serious, progressive and disabling disease. COPD destroys lung tissue and narrows the airways, causing breathlessness and fits of coughing.

If you have COPD symptoms you should talk to your doctor or respiratory specialist. Your local hospital or community health centre may also offer support services or direct you to local services.

You may wish to contact the Australian Lung Foundation for more information about the risks and symptoms of COPD, living better with COPD, support groups and further healthcare information. To contact the Australian Lung Foundation, call 1800 654 301.

Cancer

Cancer is a complex set of diseases with many different tumour sites. It accounts for 32% of male deaths and 26% of female deaths in Australia each year.

The most commonly detected cancers are prostate cancer in men and breast cancer in women. More information on cancer can be obtained through HealthInsite, an Australian government initiative that provides easy access to quality information about health. HealthInsite includes links to resources that explain what cancer is, its causes, management, support services and statistics. You can also visit the Cancer Council of Australia website which provides information and support for people affected by cancer.

Cardiovascular health

Cardiovascular disease is the largest cause of premature death, and death overall, in Australia, and stroke is one of the principle causes of long-term disability, placing great demands on family caregivers. The aim of the National Health Priority is to reduce the incidence and impact of heart disease, stroke and vascular disease in Australia. For more information on cardiovascular health, visit the National Heart Foundation Australia website or call 1300 362 787.

Diabetes

Diabetes is a chronic condition, marked by high levels of glucose in the blood. It is caused by deficient production of the hormone insulin, or resistance to its action.

Diabetes is the eighth major cause of death in Australia and its incidence is on the rise everywhere in the world. Complications include coronary heart disease, stroke, peripheral vascular disease, blindness, kidney disease, amputation of limbs and impotence.

The good news is that diabetes may be controlled through early detection and effective management. What’s more, good glucose control can delay the onset and slow down the progression of diabetes complications.

Australia has a strong network of diabetes treatment and management services that provide routine and specialist care for people with diabetes, either through doctors or through outpatient care centres.

If you’re interested in finding out more, Diabetes Australia is also a useful resource.

The National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS)

This is an Australian Government initiative that provides a range of subsidised blood, glucose and urine testing reagents, syringes and insulin pen needles for people with diabetes. Diabetes Australia is the agent for this scheme.

To be eligible for NDSS subsidised products you should register for the scheme by completing an NDSS Registration Form and having this form signed by your medical doctor. Once the details on your form have been verified, an NDSS registration card will be issued. Keep your NDSS card in your wallet, as you will need it when ordering products in the future. You can then order NDSS products over the phone, if you wish, by calling 1300 136 588 during business hours.
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Injury prevention

As individuals age, the chance of falling and being injured increases, depending on factors such as eyesight, balance, muscle strength, bone density and medications being taken. People aged over 65 years are at greatest risk of sustaining an injury from a fall.

Physical activity and good nutrition are the two key activities that help older people to remain independent and productive in the community, helping to prevent falls and other injuries. For help staying active, you may wish to contact the Occupational Therapists Association of Australia and the Australian Physiotherapy Association. You can also contact your local council to find out about exercise options for seniors in your area.

Read more: About falls prevention

Mental health

One in five Australians will experience a mental illness. This is a general term that refers to a group of illnesses in the same way that heart disease refers to a group of illnesses affecting the heart.

Episodes of a mental illness can come and go – some people experience their illness only once and fully recover, while others experience recurrent incidences throughout their lives.

It’s heartening to know that most mental illnesses like depression and anxiety disorders can be effectively treated, even though older adults rarely take advantage of formal crisis intervention and support facilities. If you’re feeling like you need some help, it’s important to speak to your doctor or health care provider as soon as possible.

Read more: About mental health

Arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions

Arthritis is a term used to describe a disorder of one or more joints. Arthritis disorders are part of a broader group of disorders of the muscles and bones called musculoskeletal disorders. Some of the most commonly occurring musculoskeletal conditions are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis. You can find out more about arthritis on the Arthritis Australia website. You can find out more about osteoporosis on the Osteoporosis Australia website.

Osteoarthritis

This is one of the most common types of arthritis, affecting the cartilage in the joints, mostly in the knees, hips and ankles. The most common symptoms of osteoarthritis include painful, stiff or swollen joints, with stiffness and weakness that restricts movement and sometimes results in joint deformity. Osteoarthritis is more prevalent with increasing age, with the average age of onset at around 45 years.

The major risk factors for osteoarthritis are obesity, physical inactivity, joint trauma and injury, repetitive joint use and misalignment. Genetic factors, increasing age and female gender are also predisposing factors.
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Rheumatoid arthritis

This is the most common form of inflammatory arthritis, characterised by joint swelling and destruction when the immune system attacks the tissues lining the joints. This disease can also affect other organs of the body, including the heart, lungs and eyes.

The most common symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include a general feeling of ill-health, pain, swelling and stiffness in the joints, which restricts movement. Rheumatoid arthritis cannot be prevented, but early treatment by a medical practitioner is very important to prevent further deterioration. There is also substantial evidence that early introduction of anti-rheumatic medication reduces progression of the disease and reduces disability, as well as improving life expectancy. You can find out more about treatment from your doctor or Arthritis Australia.

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis, meaning ‘porous bones,’ is not a form of arthritis but another type of musculoskeletal disorder. This is a disease where bone density and quality deteriorate, leading to an increased risk of fracture. The most common sites of fracture are the bones of the spine, the hip and the wrist. However other bones are commonly affected, including the shoulder, ribs and pelvis.

People are often unaware that they have osteoporosis because there are no symptoms until they experience a fracture, curvature of the spine or loss of height. This can lead to serious complications in the elderly, including pain, disability and loss of independence. However, medication is available to increase bone mineral density and reduce the risk of further fractures. Lifestyle, exercise, hormonal activity and nutrition also affect bone strength and can be improved at any stage.

Osteoporosis is more common in women because for five to ten years following menopause there is a sharp decline in the female hormone oestrogen, which plays a central role in maintaining bone mass balance. This decrease in production of oestrogen accelerates calcium loss in bones. Maintaining a good diet with an adequate intake of calcium at any age can help to prevent osteoporosis as this optimises bone mass. You’ll find more information on the Osteoporosis Australia website.

Prevention, treatment and self-management of arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions

Although arthritis is a chronic disease and there is no known cure, treatments and management techniques can help control and reduce the effects of the condition, prevent further deterioration, and even aid in prevention. Treatments include medication to reduce pain and inflammation, physiotherapy and orthopaedic surgery.

Most importantly, regular, moderate exercise helps prevent musculoskeletal conditions and offers a whole host of benefits to people with arthritis and osteoporosis. Exercise reduces joint pain and stiffness, builds strong muscle around the joints, and increases flexibility and endurance. Maintaining a good diet may also help to prevent other musculoskeletal conditions. The government’s website, HealthInsite, contains more information about health and well-being as well as links to useful sites about arthritis and osteoporosis.

Dementia

Dementia is a broad term used to describe a large group of illnesses that cause a progressive decline in a person’s functioning, including loss of memory and ability to think and learn. The most common type of dementia is Alzheimer's disease, accounting for between 50-70% of all cases.

Read more: About dementia
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This page was last updated on: 27 June 2011