Attendant Care

Delegates should be satisfied that the client’s service related injury or illness creates the need for essential and regular personal care. Medical evidence or evidence from another suitably qualified medical or allied health professional or rehabilitation provider should be obtained to inform decision making.

What other matters may be relevant in considering a claim for attendant care services will be entirely dependent on the circumstances of a particular case.  The most obvious example of any other relevant matter is any report obtained from a Community Nursing assessor or an Occupational Therapist in relation to what attendant care services are reasonably required due to the nature of the accepted service injury or condition.

MRCA and DRCA clients who hold a DVA Health Card are able to access nursing services through the Community Nursing Program. The program provides community nursing services to address a client’s assessed clinical or personal care needs.

A claim for attendant care services should be considered carefully in regard to what is reasonable for the client to receive. In determining whether attendant care services are reasonably required the delegate must consider the matters outlined in section 218 of MRCA and subsection 29(4) of DRCA the nature of the client’s injury or disease:

For clients who hold a DVA Health Card, the following services can be provided through the Veterans’ Home Care (VHC) Program:

Attendant care services may enable a person to undertake or continue employment by providing targeted assistance, particularly to get ready for work at the beginning of the day. These services can be a key support in assisting a person to live as full a life as possible after a service related injury or illness, particularly where a person is managing the impact of severe disabilities.

Definition of attendant care services

Attendant care services are provided to assist a person to manage their essential and regular personal care needs. Services can include assistance with tasks such as toileting, grooming, bathing/showering, eating/drinking and dressing.

Assessments for attendant care services

Claims for attendant care services are assessed on evidence from the client’s treating doctor and/or suitably qualified health professional or suitably qualified rehabilitation service provider.

Attendant care services are provided for in Division 3 of Part 7 of Chapter 4 of MRCA, and section 29 of DRCA.