Nursing Care at Home

We provide compassionate assistance with mobility and personal hygiene, helping your loved one maintain dignity, independence, and safety at home.

What's included:

• Mobility assistance:
  Support with safe transfers and movement around the home, including use of mobility aids like wheelchairs, walkers, and hoists.
• Personal hygiene:
  Assistance with bathing, showering, dressing, grooming, and daily hygiene routines.
• Fall prevention:
  Regular risk assessments and implementing preventive measures to minimise falls.
• Skin health:
  Frequent monitoring for pressure sores, skin integrity, and providing preventive skincare.
• Continence management:
  Respectful, discreet support for toileting and incontinence.
• Personal routine maintenance:
  Assistance with clothing selection, grooming, shaving, and oral hygiene.
• Collaboration with therapists:
  Coordinating with physiotherapists and occupational therapists for personalised care strategies.

Our skilled carers and nurses provide specialised care and dietary support for managing chronic diseases, improving quality of life and overall wellbeing at home.

What's included:

• Cardiac care:
  Management of heart conditions such as cardiac failure, including medication adherence, symptom monitoring, and blood pressure management.
• Diabetes management:
  Regular blood glucose monitoring, insulin administration, dietary guidance, and education on diabetes self-care.
• Cancer support:
  Compassionate nursing care during cancer treatment and recovery, including medication management, symptom relief, nutritional support, and emotional care.
• Stroke care:
  Personalised support during stroke recovery, including rehabilitation, mobility assistance, speech and swallowing support, and personal care.
• Respiratory disease support:
  Comprehensive management of respiratory conditions such as asthma and COPD, including medication assistance, breathing exercises, symptom monitoring, and oxygen therapy management.
• Chronic wound care:
  Expert care of chronic wounds such as leg ulcers, diabetic ulcers, and pressure sores, including regular assessment, dressings, and infection prevention.
• Arthritis and osteoporosis care:
  Assistance with mobility, pain management, medication adherence, and lifestyle strategies to improve comfort and reduce symptoms.
• Nutritional planning:
  Individualised meal plans designed with dietitians to address specific dietary requirements related to chronic health conditions.
• Education and support:
  Ongoing guidance and practical training for families to confidently manage chronic illnesses.
• Professional coordination:
  Collaboration with healthcare professionals such as GPs, specialists, dietitians, and allied health providers to maintain holistic care.

Our experienced nurses provide specialised clinical care for wounds, ostomies, catheters, tracheostomies, feeding tubes, and other advanced medical needs, ensuring comfort, dignity, and effective healing at home.

What's included:

• Detailed clinical assessments:
  Regular evaluation of wounds, pain, skin integrity, and overall health to guide effective treatment.
• Personalised care plans:
  Tailored nursing care plans developed with input from healthcare providers, specialists, and family members.
• Acute and chronic wound care:
  Skilled treatment of surgical wounds, chronic ulcers, skin grafts, incisions, and skin tears.
• Compression therapy:
  Application and management of compression bandages and stockings to promote healing of ulcers and chronic wounds.
• Ostomy and stoma care:
  Management and support for colostomy, ileostomy, and urostomy, including pouch care, hygiene, and skin protection.
• Catheter management:
  Routine hygiene care, bag changes, infection monitoring, and education on catheter care.
• Tracheostomy management:
  Skilled care for tracheostomy tubes, ensuring hygiene, clear airway management, and prevention of complications.
• Tube feeding (PEG & nasogastric):
  Support with tube feeding, nutrition administration, hygiene, and monitoring.
• Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT):
  Skilled management and regular monitoring of NPWT to enhance wound healing.
• Consumables and product education:
  Assistance with ordering supplies, education on proper use of medical products, and storage advice.
• Integrated healthcare collaboration:
  Close cooperation with medical professionals, including specialists, GPs, dietitians, stomal therapists, and wound care clinics.

Our carers provide sensitive, specialised care for individuals living with dementia or Alzheimer’s, ensuring they remain safe, calm, and comfortable at home.

What's included:

• Structured routines:
  Predictable daily schedules to reduce anxiety and confusion.
• Memory and cognitive stimulation:
  Activities, reminders, and supportive interactions to engage cognitive function.
• Behaviour management:
  Gentle, compassionate approaches to managing challenging behaviours and emotional distress.
• Safety management:
  Assessing and adapting home environments to minimise risks and increase comfort.
• Social engagement:
  Facilitating meaningful social interactions and community connections.
• Family education:
  Providing ongoing guidance and practical training for families caring for loved ones with dementia.
• Regular health and wellbeing assessments:
  Monitoring emotional and physical wellbeing to adjust care plans as needed.

Our carers assist clients in accessing virtual healthcare services and maintaining meaningful connections with family and friends through user-friendly technological support.

What's included:

• Telehealth appointments:
  Help in setting up, connecting, and managing online consultations with healthcare professionals.
• Technical assistance:
  Troubleshooting technology and connectivity issues, ensuring smooth communication.
• Device setup and training:
  Providing education and practical support in using smartphones, tablets, or computers confidently.
• Family communication support:
  Facilitating virtual contact with loved ones, promoting emotional wellbeing and reducing isolation.
• Privacy and comfort assurance:
  Ensuring a secure and private environment during virtual interactions.
• Scheduling assistance:
  Organising appointments, providing reminders, and ensuring timely connections.

Regular monitoring of vital health indicators, including blood pressure, helps in proactive management and prevention of health issues at home.

What's included:

• Routine blood pressure monitoring:
  Frequent, documented checks to track trends and detect abnormalities.
• Health indicator tracking:
  Monitoring additional vital signs like heart rate, respiratory rate, temperature, and overall wellbeing.
• Medication adherence support:
  Assistance and reminders to maintain consistent medication routines.
• Lifestyle education:
  Guidance on dietary, exercise, and stress-management strategies to support overall health.
• Follow-up coordination:
  Arranging timely healthcare follow-ups in response to changes or concerns.
• Self-monitoring support:
  Encouraging and teaching clients to self-manage health indicators when appropriate

Betty was a St Vincent’s home care client based in Toowoomba, who transferred to Melbourne to be closer to some of her family. 

Sadly, after her move, Betty suffered a stroke which landed her in a St Vincent’s hospital. After making a recovery in hospital, Betty then stepped down to hospital transition care and finally returned to her St Vincent’s home care package service.  

Throughout her journey Betty’s care was seamless, involving timely coordination of care as well as continuity of staff & services across multiple St Vincent’s programs.

This ensured that Betty was able to receive the right services, at the right time in the right location all within St Vincent's Health Australia ecosystem to support her recovery and experience. 

A: When it comes to nursing care, there's two different kinds of nurses that could be involved as a part of your care in the home.

1. Registered Nurses (RNs) 2. Enrolled Nurses (ENs). 

Also involved in care is your in-home support workers who assist with most non-medical tasks.

A: The key differences between support workers and nurses is their responsbilities, qualifications and cost as a part of your care plan.
 

A: While it might make sense to have nurses help with everything, it wouldn't be practical for you (or your budget).

Nursing services are usually reserved for people that need specialist clinical support.