ACHG Referrals
Our Admission Process
Anam Cara House Geelong Palliative Care Services work with guests and their families at any point when they require support, from diagnosis through to end of life and bereavement.
Refer a Patient
Ready to refer someone to Anam Cara House Geelong? Fill out a referral via our portal and our staff will get in touch with the person and their carer.
Admission Criteria
Anam Cara House Geelong welcomes many guests (patients) affected by a life limiting diagnosis, however some admission criteria applies.
Our Services
From care in a guest's own home, through to bed-based and end-of-life care, Anam Cara is here to support those with chronic or life-limiting illness.
Our Company
Anam Cara House Geelong Ltd was registered with ASIC in March 2008. Anam Cara House Geelong Ltd is registered by the Australian Charities & Not-for-profits Commission. We are a public, non-denominational, not-for-profit, company limited by guarantee. We are governed under the laws of the Corporations Act; a company constitution, and a Board of Directors.
Anam Cara House Geelong is endorsed as a deductible gift recipient under subdivision 30-BA of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 – Date of effect is 25 September 2003. Anam Cara House Geelong is endorsed as a health promotion charity for charity tax concessions.
Our professional staff provide excellence in person-centred palliative care services. The large trained volunteer base of Anam Cara House Geelong complement the Directors and professional staff by undertaking a wide range of duties – from general administration and housekeeping to fundraising and companionship for guests.
Anam Cara’s strategic objective is to bring together qualified medical practitioners, nursing staff and volunteers who will combine their knowledge and experience to provide holistic person-centred care outside of an acute clinical environment.
Medical
A Medical Director along with Credentialed Medical Practitioner or GPs admitting under their bedcard and caring for their own guests within their defined scope of practice. A Palliative Care Consultant available to answer questions or advise should the need arise.
Volunteers
Volunteers are trained according to the Palliative Care Victoria program, plus manual handling.
Nursing Staff
Nursing staff are experienced, skilled Registered Nurses with post graduate Palliative Care qualifications or working towards, Medication Endorsed Enrolled Nurses and Patient Care Assistants experienced in palliative care or willing to undertake training. Our ratios follow the Safe Patient Care Act requirements.
Allied Health
Allied Health, Bereavement, Pastoral Care – referral to practitioners as required/ requested.
Who We Are
The facility has been carefully and thoughtfully designed to reflect Anam Cara’s brief of a home like environment and the requirements of a private hospital.
Anam Cara House Geelong (Anam Cara) the new purpose-built facility is located in the grounds of Deakin University’s Waurn Ponds Campus.
As a registered private hospital Anam Cara will have NSQHS accreditation, licensed under the drugs and poisons act, have a set of bylaws, codes of conduct, scopes of practice, policies and procedures, clinical governance framework and a credentialling process. Our nurse: guest ratios are consistent with the Victorian Safe Patient Care Act, plus Palliative Care trained volunteers that provide a myriad off supportive services.
What We Offer
Unique care and support for people who are living with a life-limiting diagnosis in the Geelong and wider region.
Support, care and equipment to help your loved one stay comfortable at home.
We provide people living with a chronic or life-limiting illness with in-home palliative care assessments, assistance with advanced care, my aged care and end-of-life journey planning. This includes liaising with general practitioners and medical professionals, as well as a personalised delivery of care in the comfort of your own home. For all referrals – including medical and nursing professionals, allied health, case managers, family, friends and self – please contact the office on 5222 5831. Our Community Outreach Nurses will then make an appointment to meet with the person and carer to assess their needs.
We also have a free Equipment Loan Bank including electric beds, shower stools, chairs for showers, wheel chairs, electric lift chairs etc. Equipment can be requested by Allied Health practitioners, where Anam Cara House Geelong will deliver directly to the client. If a request is made directly by the person or carer, our Community Outreach Nurse will visit to assess and discuss suitability for the equipment, and provide education. Items that are no longer required are paid forward to those in need in the community through our ‘Pay It Forward Bank’ initiative.
A flexible day program where guests can come to our home for the day.
Our Living Well Day Palliative Care Program not only provides family members and carers the time to run errands, or have a few hours to themselves, it also provides the person the ability to socialise with other guests and the people of Anam Cara House Geelong. It’s a program where guests can come and enjoy a range of activities, education and relaxation, with registered nurses and specially trained volunteers there for support and care. The program operates Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at our Belmont site, Wednesday at our Norlane site and Friday at our Whittington (St Albans Park) site; from 10am-3pm with morning tea and lunch provided. Transport assistance to and from may be able to be arranged, depending on availability.
For all referrals – including medical and nursing professionals, allied health, case managers, family, friends and self – please contact the office on 5222 5831. Our Nurse Manager will then interview the person or carer onsite or at home to determine if Anam Cara House Geelong is the most suitable organisation to provide care. This includes a discussion of care goals, and a guests and carer needs assessment.
24-hour care to guests of Anam Cara House Geelong. Overnight care in our house with support and compassionate skilled care.
Our overnight Palliative Care specialist nurses and trained volunteers provide compassionate and exceptional care for those living with a life-limiting illness. We are able to care for people who require medication, pain or symptom management, functional decline or illness progression – and we collaborate with medical practitioners to deliver care. Our care is person-centred and holistic, where the goals of care are discussed and agreed to by the guest and family. Please note family is not defined as blood relatives, it is defined as all those that are important to the person at the centre of our care.
Our end-of-life care is provided in a home-like environment at Anam Cara House Geelong, and is delivered by specialist staff and palliative care volunteers in collaboration with medical practitioners. Our care is person-centred and encompasses the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of our guests. This holistic care extends to the whole family, however family is not defined as blood relatives. It is defined as all those that are important to the person at the centre of our care. Our support continues past the dying event, with bereavement support and a memorial service, for it is those that present that carry the memories. Death is a part of life, and we view it as a privilege to be invited to be involved and care at this sacred time.
For all referrals – admission to a bed requires referral by a credentialled medical practitioner. We are happy to discuss referrals with medical and nursing professionals, allied health, case managers, family, friends and self to assist with a list of credentialled medical practitioners or our Medical Director – please contact the office on 5222 5831. Our Nurse Manager or Community Outreach Nurse will meet and assess the person and carer offsite. If Anam Cara House Geelong is the most suitable organisation to care for the person, then admission is arranged in collaboration with the medical practitioner.
Community Outreach Nurse Service
Support, care and equipment to help your loved one stay comfortable at home.
We provide people living with a chronic or life-limiting illness with in-home palliative care assessments, assistance with advanced care, my aged care and end-of-life journey planning. This includes liaising with general practitioners and medical professionals, as well as a personalised delivery of care in the comfort of your own home. For all referrals – including medical and nursing professionals, allied health, case managers, family, friends and self – please contact the office on 5222 5831. Our Community Outreach Nurses will then make an appointment to meet with the person and carer to assess their needs.
We also have a free Equipment Loan Bank including electric beds, shower stools, chairs for showers, wheel chairs, electric lift chairs etc. Equipment can be requested by Allied Health practitioners, where Anam Cara House Geelong will deliver directly to the client. If a request is made directly by the person or carer, our Community Outreach Nurse will visit to assess and discuss suitability for the equipment, and provide education. Items that are no longer required are paid forward to those in need in the community through our ‘Pay It Forward Bank’ initiative.
Day Palliative Care Program
A flexible day program where guests can come to our home for the day.
Our Living Well Day Palliative Care Program not only provides family members and carers the time to run errands, or have a few hours to themselves, it also provides the person the ability to socialise with other guests and the people of Anam Cara House Geelong. It’s a program where guests can come and enjoy a range of activities, education and relaxation, with registered nurses and specially trained volunteers there for support and care. Transport assistance to and from may be able to be arranged, depending on availability.
For all referrals – including medical and nursing professionals, allied health, case managers, family, friends and self – please contact the office on 5222 5831. Our Nurse Manager will then interview the person or carer onsite or at home to determine if Anam Cara House Geelong is the most suitable organisation to provide care. This includes a discussion of care goals, and a guests and carer needs assessment.
Bed Based Care & End of Life Care
(Coming in Stage 3)
24-hour care to guests of Anam Cara House Geelong. Overnight care in our house with support and compassionate skilled care.
Our overnight Palliative Care specialist nurses and trained volunteers provide compassionate and exceptional care for those living with a life-limiting illness. We are able to care for people who require medication, pain or symptom management, functional decline or illness progression – and we collaborate with medical practitioners to deliver care. Our care is person-centred and holistic, where the goals of care are discussed and agreed to by the guest and family. Please note family is not defined as blood relatives, it is defined as all those that are important to the person at the centre of our care.
Our end-of-life care is provided in a home-like environment at Anam Cara House Geelong, and is delivered by specialist staff and palliative care volunteers in collaboration with medical practitioners. Our care is person-centred and encompasses the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of our guests. This holistic care extends to the whole family, however family is not defined as blood relatives. It is defined as all those that are important to the person at the centre of our care. Our support continues past the dying event, with bereavement support and a memorial service, for it is those that present that carry the memories. Death is a part of life, and we view it as a privilege to be invited to be involved and care at this sacred time.
For all referrals – admission to a bed requires referral by a credentialled medical practitioner. We are happy to discuss referrals with medical and nursing professionals, allied health, case managers, family, friends and self to assist with a list of credentialled medical practitioners or our Medical Director – please contact the office on 5222 5831. Our Nurse Manager or Community Outreach Nurse will meet and assess the person and carer offsite. If Anam Cara House Geelong is the most suitable organisation to care for the person, then admission is arranged in collaboration with the medical practitioner.
Admission Criteria
Our patients are our ‘Guests’ who have a life limiting illness. Our referral process begins once a guest provide there consent for contact to be made with Anam Cara House Geelong. Those guests will meet the following criteria:
Inclusion Criteria
Exclusion Criteria
Primary goals for ACHG services are to control symptoms, maximise function, offer psychosocial support and maintain quality of life.
Whilst anyone can refer to an Anam Cara House Geelong service, referral from a treating specialist, GP, Nurse or Allied Health Professional are encouraged so that medical information is provided and is transparent.
ACHG is not a long term care facility. Discharge/Transfer – should your patient require long term care possible alternative accommodation options will be discussed.
Escalation & Acute deterioration policy – patients who develop unstable acute symptoms/issues requiring assessment in the acute medical setting will, after discussion, be transferred to an acute healthcare facility for treatment as per escalation criteria.
Acute deterioration that is unexpected and reversable, will be treated as per the Acute Deterioration policy and, depending on patients ACD or expressed wishes, transferred to an acute healthcare facility for further treatment. People are triaged based on clinical urgency by the senior medical and nursing staff.
Guests, carers and family members are welcome to call us at (03) 5222 5831 and discuss their situation any time.
Admission Processes
Upon completing a referral via our portal, our Community Outreach Nurses will reach out to the person and their carer to assess whether Anam Cara House Geelong is right for them.
Community Outreach Nurse Service
For all referrals – including medical and nursing professionals, allied health, case managers, family, friends and self – please head to our referral portal and fill out the required information. Our Community Outreach Nurses will then make an appointment to meet with the person and carer to assess their needs.
Day Palliative Care Program
For all referrals – including medical and nursing professionals, allied health, case managers, family, friends and self – please head to our referral portal and fill out the required information. Our Nurse Manager will then interview the person or carer onsite or at home to determine if Anam Cara House Geelong is the most suitable organisation to provide care. This includes a discussion of care goals, and a guests and carer needs assessment.
Bed Based Care & End of Life Care
(Coming in Stage 3)
For all referrals – admission to a bed requires referral by a credentialled medical practitioner. We are happy to discuss referrals with medical and nursing professionals, allied health, case managers, family, friends and self to assist with a list of credentialled medical practitioners or our Medical Director – please head to our referral portal and fill out the required information. Our Nurse Manager or Community Outreach Nurse will meet and assess the person and carer offsite. If Anam Cara House Geelong is the most suitable organisation to care for the person, then admission is arranged in collaboration with the medical practitioner.
Caring For Your Patient
Clinical staff are skilled palliative care experienced nurses, supported by Palliative Care Victoria course trained volunteers.
If admitted under your bed card the clinical staff will interact with you around any changes in care needs or condition that occur in between your visits/reviews. This contact will be by the registered nurse using ISBAR communication, it can be telephone, facetime or email depending on urgency and your preference.
If you have referred your patient to a credentialled medical practitioner to admit, ACHG will ensure that you are notified of admission, discharge, transfer, and or death.
Refer A Patient (Guest)
Ready to refer someone to Anam Cara House Geelong Community Outreach or Palliative Day Program? Fill out a referral via our portal and our staff will get in touch with the person and their carer.
In Addition To Completing The Online Referral Form:
To avoid delay in processing your Referral, please ensure copies of all relevant medical information is provided if you have access to them: e.g. Current Medication List, Scans, Blood, Relevant specialist letters and doctor’s notes.
