Social Support & Health Programs
An important part of ageing is maintaining your physical and mental health. The Italian Day Centre offers a variety of health classes, social activities and programs each week.
The Italian Day Centre fosters a creative approach to enable all our clients and carers to be independent and improve their quality of life.
We support clients, carers and families as equal partners in planning and taking steps to improve wellness and social connection with others.
Social Support and Health Programs for Groups
The heart of our group social support are the Hobart and Launceston Day Centre lunches. Held on a Tuesday these vibrant lunches feature traditional Italian food, music and the celebration of Italian Festa’s or Festivals. Before the Day Centre lunches we offer a Qi Gong class in Hobart and an exercise class in Launceston. The Italian Day Centre also provides professional Allied Health services in Hobart, currently every Wednesday through our Exercise Program. Other Day Centre activities include card games and coffee, arts and crafts, bingo and a seasonal walking group.
The Hobart and Launceston Italian Day Centre offers bus trips that include sightseeing, a two course meal and singing. These quarterly trips are very popular and are structured around client suggestions.
Social Support Services for Individuals
Our individual social support program is provided by trained Client Outreach staff, including bilingual staff who speak fluent Italian. They will work with you to understand your goals for improving your health and staying well, being comfortable in your own home, being connected to your community, culture and language, and being involved in activities that you enjoy. Outreach staff will visit you at home, keep in contact over the phone, and in some cases accompany you on certain activities, such as shopping trips and medical appointments.
Tuesday Day Centre Lunch
The Italian Day Centre offers opportunities to socialise and connect with a friendly community. We offer a three course meal, wine and live entertainment for $15. (For festival (Festa) lunches we charge $20)
Group Support
Here’s a sample of activities you can share in at the Italian Day Centre during any given week. These may change with the seasons.
Qi Gong – Tues 11AM
This weekly class is instructed by Dr. Ted Vidor. Qi Gong is a gentle form of exercise similar to Tai Chi. It can help improve balance flexibility and strength. It’s easy to learn and suitable for anyone who can safely stand.
Card Games or bingo & Coffee – Tues 1.30PM
Join us after lunch every Tuesday afternoon at the Centre for a coffee or tea and Italian card games or bingo.
Gentle Exercise Class
– MONDAY 11.30 am
A qualified exercise instructor conducts a popular 60 minute gentle exercise class each week on a Wednesday. No need to book, these classes are a great way to get fit and have fun while exercising. The IDC has partnered with an allied health provider to provide an exercise physiologist to attend these classes and offer general and individual advice.
Men’s Group – Tues 1.45pm
An initiative of the Italian Day Centre has been the development of a small Men’s Group for eligible IDC clients. This group provides an opportunity for men to discuss things of interest to them. This sharing and companionship supports men’s health and wellbeing.
Festas & Bus trips
Tasmania has many scenic and culinary experiences to offer. We regularly organise single and multi-day group trips for our clients to experience them safely and affordably. Transport, accomodation and meals costs are usually all included.
Light Lunch & Information Sessions – MONDAY 12pm
After the gentle exercise class there is a light lunch ($5) where you can meet old and new friends.
Every 4-6 weeks as part of the Wednesday lunch activities the Italian Day Centre invites community organisations to present important information to clients during lunch and answer their questions.
Organisations like Tasmania Legal Aid and Council on the Ageing (COTA) provide these information sessions at 12.30pm. Topics have included healthy ageing, living well at home, and financial security.
Walking GRoup
Our seasonal Walkie Talkies group meets regularly around Greater Hobart to catch-up while having a healthy stroll and some fresh air.
Individual Social Support
What is individual social support?
Individual social support includes bi-cultural support, either within the home environment or while accessing community services.
The Italian Day Centre provides social support for eligible individuals or couples. Sometimes this support is referred to as a Client Outreach service. These services are provided under the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP).
This assistance is mainly directed towards meeting the client’s need for social contact so as to participate in community life. Examples of individual social support include the following activities and services:
Attend medical appointments with you
Assist you to access other community activities
Assist you with bill‑ paying & shopping
Consult with you about any aged care, health or community services you may need to improve your wellness and
reablement goals.Connect you to friends and or services via phone or simple web technologies
Make a social visit
Link and help you liaise with one or more services and reach your wellness and reablement goals and improve your community participation
Fees
Charging fees is a requirement of Government funding and grants and provides extra funds to increase the services we can provide. Clients pay a modest fee for some of our services, and no-one is excluded because they cannot afford to pay. Please talk to our staff for more details.
Our client outreach services are charged per hour and are comparable to other similar Tasmanian entry level aged care services. The Italian Day Centre also asks for a contribution towards transport under its Community and Home Support obligations.
We ask for a modest contribution (gold coin) towards our Allied Health/Exercise Classes. We also ask for a gold coin donation to our weekly Qi Gong classes.
Clients pay a fee for Fresh Delivered Meals and day centre meals.
Fees may change from time to time dependent on both government and Italian Day Centre policies (The Italian Day Centre aims to ensure that all services provided are both affordable and accessible for all clients).