“I know that if I have a problem, I can call the nurse. I don’t have to go to the doctor and wait.” — Edna Babel, Australian Unity customer
Key points
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With a history of recurrent pneumonia linked to sleep apnoea, asthma, bronchiectasis and nocturnal hypoxia, Edna finds that the symptoms of her lung condition can make leaving home a challenge.
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Edna receives regular check-ups from Australian Unity’s Home Health Community Nursing team.
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If you have a health condition, Community Nursing support might be beneficial. Team members can set up regular visits to check your vital signs and assist with tasks such as lung checks or blood-sugar and blood-pressure monitoring.
For Home Care Package customer Edna Babel, 86, a visit to the doctor isn’t as simple as it once was.
With a history of recurrent pneumonia linked to sleep apnoea, asthma, bronchiectasis and nocturnal hypoxia, Edna finds that the symptoms of her lung condition can make leaving home a challenge.
That’s why Edna is so grateful for the regular check-ups she receives from Australian Unity’s Home Health Community Nursing team.
“Our clinicians monitor her lung health and check for any symptoms that might indicate that she is experiencing any decline, so we can seek GP advice, care or treatment to prevent her from entering hospital,” says Maddi Semmens, a Regional Nursing Manager who oversees the nursing team across Victoria and southern New South Wales.
“I know that if I have a problem, I can call the nurse,” Edna adds. “I don’t have to go to the doctor and wait.”
Care at home
Like Edna, if you have a health condition, Community Nursing support might be beneficial. Team members can set up regular visits to check your vital signs and assist with tasks such as lung checks or blood-sugar and blood-pressure monitoring.
Health assessments are another way that Community Nurses can support your wellbeing, Maddi says.
“One of the key elements of our work is completing holistic assessments for our customers, looking at all facets of their health and wellbeing to make sure the services they’re receiving in their home meet their care needs and goals,” she says.
Based on assessment results, Community Nurses can provide referrals to allied health professionals, such as a physiotherapist or occupational therapist, on your behalf.
Prevention better than cure
Another service offered by the team is preventative care, says Kylie Lyon, an Australian Unity Community Registered Nurse supporting customers in Albury-Wodonga and surrounds.
“Skin assessments are a critical component of the work we do,” she says. “Once a customer is identified as being at risk of skin breakdown, we can implement measures to prevent skin tears and pressure areas.”
As with Edna, regular check-ups may nip any serious illnesses in the bud. “We can quickly get onto the GP, and get any pre-work done before it gets too bad and you end up in hospital,” Kylie says.
For customers who don’t have family or friends living nearby, visits from a Community Nurse can also double as social visits. "We can be there for a health issue or a wellbeing check in," she adds.
Short-term support when you need it
If you’ve recently been in hospital, the Community Nursing team can provide short-term services such as wound care, catheter management and medication assistance while you get back on your feet. You may be able to fund this through a Home Care package or pay for it privately, starting and stopping as needed.
Disclaimer:
Information provided in this article is of a general nature. Australian Unity accepts no responsibility for the accuracy of any of the opinions, advice, representations or information contained in this publication. Readers should rely on their own advice and enquiries in making decisions affecting their own health, wellbeing or interest. Interviewee names and titles were accurate at the time of writing.
