Open books and discounted services: Allied health providers urge older residents to access support scheme

Older Illawarra residents may be eligible to receive discounted physiotherapy and other allied health services subsidised by the Federal Government, but a lack of knowledge about what’s available or fear of complicated processes could see many paying hefty fees or living in pain.

Jeanette Holborow suffered shoulder pain for many years but continued to push through.

“You just live with it for a long time,” she said. “But I was getting that way that I couldn’t get around to do up my bra and I thought if I can’t dress myself that is going to be terrible.

The 82-year-old, who tries to stay active by walking and swimming, was referred to physiotherapist Bart Tuohey at Phytness Healthcare for some relief but knew it would come at a cost.

“I was prepared to come maybe half a dozen times,” Jeanette said.

“He promised me that he wouldn’t keep me going if he felt it wasn’t helping me.”

During her appointment, Bart advised her that she might qualify for a subsidised fee through the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) which is part of My Aged Care.

With just one phone call she was told that she’d actually already been assessed and could access the physiotherapy service for around a tenth of the usual cost, immediately.

“I was very lucky,” Jeanette said.

“People I know have got meals and things like that but no one I knew did physio.

“She fixed it up while I was there on the phone, it was as simple as that.”

The simplicity of the process was a surprise to Jeanette who had previously struggled for years to receive a cleaner through the scheme.

“I think it was just them knowing here what you had to do because they’re involved in it, but a lot of people don’t know,” she said.

Phytness Healthcare became a registered provider of CHSP last year after it was one of 133 providers to receive a growth grant from the Federal Government.

“Under the allied health CHSP we might be able to give people access to a physio or an exercise physiologist or a dietitian if there’s weight involvement, which can take them out of that chronic pain and discomfort into a world where they’re now being looked after by a little team that can facilitate those goals of staying active in the community,” Bart said.

Each CHSP service, whether it be help with cleaning, gardening, nursing, transport or other supports, comes with individual challenges and wait times due to availability.

But despite Phytness Healthcare having short wait times and open books, Bart said there was still limited awareness.

“It’s often a bit of word of mouth, but we’re doing our best to advertise to the local GPs, to the My Aged Care assessors, to potentially the sons and daughters of parents who could be eligible to get it out there that this is a service that is available,” Bart said. “Because the beauty of CHSP as well is that it’s not means tested.”

A number of aged care and private providers offer physiotherapy through CHSP with about 220 people in the Cunningham electorate and around 160 people in the Whitlam electorate receiving a referral for the service in the 2024-25 financial year to 17 February 2025.

To be eligible you must be 65 years or older, with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and those on low incomes or at risk of homeless able to access it earlier.

“Getting a My Aged Care number doesn’t mean that you’re old; it also doesn’t mean that you have to accept services right now – it’s just essentially putting you in the system,” Bart said.

“We don’t want people to have to live their last five or 10 years in a residential aged care facility, albeit they do a fabulous job; we want them to live happy, healthy at home with their sons, their daughters, their grandkids, their friends, for as long as they can, and then use those additional services when they’re there. ”

Simply asking the question could help people save on services they’re already receiving or open up the options for their future.

“I’ll be telling all my friends about it,” Jeanette said.

“You’ve got to just not be frightened to ask because My Aged Care is there to help you and they’re trying to keep people in their own homes so I just think probably start with your doctor – ‘What should I do?’

To find out more about CHSP visit the My Aged Care website, call 1800 200 422 or visit the Wollongong or Dapto service centres to speak to an aged care specialist officer face-to-face.

To contact Phytness Healthcare visit its website.