Aged Care Assessment – Ballina & Surrounds

ACAT assessment is an eligibility requirement to access Commonwealth-funded residential aged care, residential respite care, transition care and home care packages.

ACAT undertakes a comprehensive assessment of care needs for older people needing access to residential and/or home (community) care, and helps the elderly and their carers to determine what kind of support will best meet their needs.

Target group are older people, typically over the age of 65 or for indigenous Australians, people over the age of 50, or people who have an age related condition.

Often comprises of a doctor, nurse, social worker and occupational therapist, the team will recommend services deemed to be the most appropriate to meet care needs through a series of questions, and with the client’s consent will liaise with families/carers and health care providers.

Referral Procedure, by care recipient themselves or others:

• The care recipient, carer, family must be aware of and consent to the referral
• All referrals are to be made via MyAgedCare: 1800 200 422

Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) – Ballina

Ballina District Hospital, 78 – 92 Cherry Street Ballina
PH: 02 66206222

You can also organise an Aged Care Assessment with My Aged Care by calling 1800 200 422

Local Information & Initiatives for Seniors

Adult Programs – Local Libraries

• Ballina Chess Group – meets at the Ballina Library every Friday from 12.30pm to 2.00pm. All welcome.
• Knit ‘n’ Chat – is a group of knitters, crocheters, and hand embroiderers who get together at Tweed Heads Library on Monday mornings at 9.30am with their project to craft and chat. Beginners are welcome.
• Lismore Craft Group – a group of women who gather at Lismore library to knit, crochet and do patchwork. They meet every second and fourth Wednesday of the month from 9.30am to 12.00pm . The group discuss ideas and help each other work on individual or group projects for the community.
• Lismore Orgami Club – for anyone who loves Origami. Held at Lismore Library on the first Saturday of each month 10.00am to 12.00pm. Different projects are created and displayed in the Library.
• Memories on the Move (MOM) – takes the library out to our community members living in Aged Care Facilities within the Tweed Shire who are not able to visit the library. Library staff conduct storytelling sessions with groups of local residents to encourage reminiscing, sharing of stories and memories with plenty of group interaction.
• Recipe Club- Byron Bay Library Recipe Club is a casual meeting on the third Tuesday of the month at 2.00pm. Be inspired, swap recipes and have a conversation about all things food. Guest speakers appear at most meetings and all foodies are welcome! Phone Byron Bay Library for more information on (02) 6685 8540.
• Tweed Talks -encourages community members to view their local library as a source for diverse information. The topics covered range from everyday interests and issues surrounding senior living – healthy mind and soul or feel good interactive sessions, to services through government departments. Tweed Talks are held at various times in the Tweed Shire libraries please check the events and programs calendar for details.
• Murwillumbah Seed Library – promotes a sense of community sharing, involvement and self-sufficiency. The library has a collection of seeds available to “borrow”; there is no cost to the borrower and the seeds are locally sustainable. So, how does it work? 1. You select your seeds packets and bring them to the desk to “borrow” them. 2. You plant them, grow them and harvest what you need, letting some of it go to seed. You keep some seeds for yourself, and return some to the library. 3. The library then packages it up ready for someone else to “borrow”. It’s that simple! For more information phone Murwillumbah Library on (02) 6670 2427.

Contact Numbers for Local Libraries:

• Ballina Library –  02 6686 2831
• Lismore Library – 02 6621 2464
• Lennox Head Library –  02 6687 6398
• Alstonville Library – 02 6628 5527
• Byron Library – 02 6685 8540

Richmond/Tweed Library link for all services in the area: https://rtrl.nsw.gov.au/cp_themes/default/page.asp?p=DOC-YHU-07-82-63

Other Initiatives:

• Senior Citizens Club Ballina – 02 6686 7043
• The local U3A group based in Lismore offers a range of classes at different locations, including but not limited to photography, dancing, book club, language and gardening. U3A (lismoreu3a.com.au)
• Active Aging Plan Initiative – Ballina Shire Council. Active Ageing Plan | Ballina Shire Council (nsw.gov.au)