FAQ
How long is a typical session?
Age care provider in-home sessions are a minimum of 2 hours (mandated under the SCHADS award.) Members may choose to have a longer session if they want to go on an outing or have a project that they are working on.
CHSP (council funded) in-home sessions are generally 2 hours, although a one-off longer session may be approved through a request to Lively Matching matching@lively.org.au who will seek approval from our Council partner.
How often are in-home sessions?
Age care provider in-home sessions can be as often as the client requests (and budget allows). Typically these sessions are bi-weekly, weekly or fortnightly.
CHSP (council funded) in-home sessions are generally on a fortnightly basis, although if the client requires weekly services for a finite period (eg: to get the garden or their home cleaned up to permit on-going sessions) these can be requested via matching@lively.org.au who will seek approval from our Council partner.
How long will it take for my client to be matched with their helper?
Once we receive your match request, typically your client (now a ‘Lively member’) will be matched with their helper within 5 days.
How long will it take for service delivery to commence?
Usually the first session will be booked within 2 weeks of receiving the match request.
What activities does social gardening include and exclude?
The Lively social gardening service includes:
Weeding, pruning, planting, raking, sweeping, watering, composting. Mulching
The service does not include:
Use of any power tools - whipper snipping, lawn mowing etc
Heavy landscaping
How much is charged for mileage?
We charge $1.25 per km
What prior experience, training or qualifications do Lively helpers undergo or have?
Helpers do not require any prior experience, training or qualifications before they join Lively. We’re providing an accessible entry point into the aged care sector for young people who are either at uni or still figuring out what direction they want to take. Lively fully trains the helpers in all of our services; working with older people; understanding ageing and ageism; maintaining professional boundaries; how to document session notes; OHS; infection control; emergency response protocol and incident reporting.
What happens if my client doesn’t get along with their helper or wants to change the helper?
It is rare, but it can happen. In that case the member lets the matching know and we can rematch the member with a new helper.
What happens when a helper moves on-will Lively try to match the member with a helper with similar interests or skills to the previous helper?
Due to our helpers being young, casual employees we can’t expect them to stay long term with Lively. (However due to the work environment and job satisfaction we do have some helpers who stay with us for several years!) When a helper is moving on, they know to give as much notice as possible to their member. The in-coming helper can read previous session notes and the outgoing helper records any particular needs or preferences in the notes. If there are specific interests or needs, eg: a language, our matching team will try to match the member with a helper who meets those needs or interests. Generally we’ve had positive feedback from members about getting to know and work with different young people.
Are the helpers to be trusted with sensitive or private information?
Lively Helpers are all pre-vetted and police checked before starting work with Lively. They are also trained to respect members’ privacy and to not share any private information. When assisting members with passwords or sensitive information helpers are trained to not view members’ passwords.