The Importance of Community Access
For those under the NDIS and Aged Care systems, community access forms part of the foundation for their continued health and wellbeing.
Going out into the community encompasses everything from attending recreational activities to educational opportunities, shopping, employment and everything in between. The ability to participate in life outside the home not only increases social inclusion and fosters independence, but also promotes physical, mental, and emotional health. It allows individuals to access basic amenities and health care, build and maintain relationships, learn new skills, and contribute to society in a way that is meaningful to them.
Nightingale Home Care works alongside participants to ensure that community accessibility is delivered in ways that suit the individual and their needs.
Barriers and Solutions
Despite the benefits, there are challenges in ensuring effective community access. These can include logistical barriers such as transportation, accessibility issues, and social barriers stemming from stigmas around disability and aging. Overcoming these challenges requires a collaborative effort involving service providers, caregivers, and the broader community.
In response, service providers like us play a pivotal role in bridging these gaps. We work with participants, their families, care coordinators, and specialists to engage supports that are tailored to clients’ goals in the community. This includes working with mobility aids, arranging accessible transport, offering communication support, providing support while out and about, and advocating for inclusive community practices. By empowering clients we aim to enable individuals to gain confidence in navigating and actively participating in their communities.
Looking Ahead
While we continue to expand our services in the home, we are keenly aware that many basic services still need to be accessed outside of the home. This is especially true for those living in more remote areas along the Bellarine and Surf Coast.
Reducing the effect of inequalities in transport and community accessibility is an important part of Nightingale Home Care providing effective supports in Geelong and surrounding areas. We will continue to work within the community alongside clients to help support a life with no barriers.