More Details

* Home Modification and Maintenance Services (HMMS) in NSW are funded by the Department of Family Services. Ageing, Disability and Home Care (ADHC) under the Home and Community Care Program (HACC), a joint initiative of Commonwealth and State Governments, and are available to residents of NSW.

* Use the NSW HMMS State Council website to locate your nearest office.

Levels
* Home Modification and Maintenance Services (HMMS) are split into three defined levels of service provision reflecting the monetary value and complexity of work completed by service providers.

* There are overlapping monetary levels for the HMMS industry as follows:
Level 1 - $0 - $7,500
Level 2 - $5,000 - $25,000
Level 3 - $20,000 and above

Overlapping Bands
* If a Level 1 Service has the skill, spare capacity and budget to complete work up to the value of $7,500, then the work may be completed by the Level 1 Service. However, if the Service does not, then all work over the value of $5,000 must be referred to the Level 2 budget holder in the region.

If a Level 2 budget holder does not have adequate funding to complete work valued over $20,000, then they may refer the application to the Level 3 budget holder; the NSW Statewide Level 3 Project.

Maintenance Work
* Clients can only receive a maximum of $3,000 worth of maintenance work in a five year period.

Major Modifications
Examples of major home modifications recommended by an OT over the value of $5,000 include:
* access modifications such as ramps
* bathroom modifications
* kitchen modifications
* safety modifications

Please note modifications over the value of $20,000 which are referred to NSW Statewide Level 3 are usually a combination of modifications such as a ramp, a bathroom modification and a kitchen modification or could be a single modification such as the installation of a lift.

About HMMS Services
* There are 84 Level 1 HMMS, 12 Level 2 Service Providers and 1 Level 3 Statewide Service Provider.

* It should be noted that Level 1 HMMS in all areas of NSW are the point of contact for client referrals requiring both minor and major modifications. The priority level determined by the referring OT or agency will assist in determining the progression of the work to be completed. Once the referral is received by the HMMS and eligiblity has been determined, the work will be prioritised according to the current workload of the HMMS.

* HMMS are all funded to provide different services and therefore may not provide the full range of modification and maintenance work required. OTs will need to liaise with their local HMMS about the range of services provided i.e. modifications, maintenance, gardening, lawn mowing and occupational therapy services.

Application Process
All applications require an Occupational Therapy assessment recommending the modifications required. Any willing OT can undertake this assessment. OT's can be located through the community / outpatient OT department of the local hospital, the local Aged Care Assessment Team or a private therapist.

Except for Hunter and Central Coast Local Health Districts, all applications are forwarded to the local HACC office for consideration. A quote is devised, based on the OT's recommendations, and forwarded onto the appropriate level scheme, based on the amount of money the modification will cost. The client may call their local HACC office to find out further details of how their local HACC scheme works and what percentage of the cost they are likely to pay if the work is over $5000.

Referrals to home modification services in the Hunter and Central Coast local planning areas are processed through the Community Care Access Point.
The CCAP is a telephone assessment and referral service that can help people of any age who are in need of care support, including older people, people with a disability, their families and carers, to access community care services.

*This scheme is not means tested, but priority may be given on a needs basis.
*Interpreter service available.

Applications for major modifications are assessed by panels of Level 2 Service Providers consisting of industry professionals such as OTs, HMMS Builders, HMMS Co-ordinators, Client Representatives, and a HACC Service Provider.

Eligibility
Home Modification and Maintenance Services are available to eligible Home and Community Care (HACC) clients residing in NSW. For detailed information about the HACC Program click here

Your eligibility will be assessed by your local Home Modification and Maintenance Service (HMMS) or your referring Occupational Therapist.

You are eligible if you are:
A frail aged person or a carer of a frail aged person
Or
A younger person with a disability who requires support and assistance
Or
A person who cares for an adult or a child with a disability

Home Modification and Maintenance Services also meet the needs of, and provide equitable access for special needs groups within the community. These groups include:
* People from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
* Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders
* People with dementia
* Financially disadvantaged people
* People living in remote or isolated areas

Price Guide

Seniors Information Service will give the phone number of the local Home Modification and Maintenance service.