Why the holiday period needs a plan
For many older Sydneysiders, December and January look different from the rest of the year. Family may visit or go away, regular helpers take leave, the weather gets hotter and days lose their usual shape. When visits stop with no plan, it can be harder to pick up where the client left off. A little planning in November keeps everyone on the same page:
- The client knows when their physio or EP is coming and what to keep doing in between.
- The family can plan visits around travel and gatherings.
- The care manager can see how allied health fits into the client's Support at Home budget for the period.
- The therapist can time a review before the break and a restart after it.
Step 1: Talk to the care manager early
Physiotherapy and exercise physiology are clinical supports under Support at Home. Before December, check with the care manager at your registered provider what has been authorised and how holiday visits fit the client's quarterly budget. Our guide to planning physio and EP across a Support at Home quarter explains how to think about visits across a whole quarter.
Alera is not a registered Support at Home provider. The client keeps their current provider and care manager, and Alera delivers the agreed sessions as an associated provider. Read more in already have a Support at Home provider?
Step 2: Plan the visits that matter most
Not every week needs the same attention. Visits worth arranging early include:
- A pre-holiday check to review the program and leave a simple routine for the break.
- Visits around family travel, so the client is not without support when they have fewer people nearby.
- A January restart, so the program gets going again rather than drifting.
Because Alera visits are available any day, including Saturdays, it can be easier to fit visits around family plans. Availability on public holidays can vary, so please check the dates when you enquire. Same physio wherever possible, so progress is measured against where the client started.
Step 3: Plan for the weeks without visits
If there are gaps, the therapist can leave a short routine using the client's own chair, bench or steps, written down somewhere easy to find. Families are welcome to watch a session so they know what the routine looks like and can encourage it. See keeping momentum between home physio visits and quiet weeks with less movement.
Step 4: Think about summer heat
Hot Sydney days can make some people feel tired or unwell. Your physio or EP can suggest a sensible time of day for exercise, drinks to keep nearby and when to rest. If a client feels unwell, they should stop and speak with their doctor. In an emergency, call 000.
Step 5: Set the January restart
Before the break, agree a restart date and who will confirm it. At the first visit back, the therapist checks how the client went over the holidays and adjusts the program. Our post on restarting home physio after a break covers what that visit looks like.
What care managers can send
A short note with the client's goal, any recent falls or hospital stays, family travel dates, home access details and who to contact helps holiday visits run smoothly. Our referrals page has the details in one place.
Private clients and DVA
Not everyone uses Support at Home. Private clients and families can enquire directly, and DVA clients are welcome to ask about eligibility on enquiry. Alera Healthcare has provided mobile physiotherapy and exercise physiology across Sydney Metro since 2004. We do not offer occupational therapy or NDIS services.
Next step
Want help planning physio or EP visits over the holidays? Book a 15-minute call to talk it through, or visit our referrals page if you are a care manager.
Call 040 55 77 555 or email admin@alerahealthcare.com.au.
FAQ
Does Alera visit over the Christmas and summer holidays?
Alera visits are available any day, including Saturdays. Availability on public holidays can vary, so please check the dates when you enquire. Talk to us early about the dates you need so we can plan visits around family travel and the client's routine.
Should home physio stop over the holidays?
Not necessarily. Some clients keep a regular rhythm, others have fewer visits and a home routine. The therapist, client and care manager agree what suits the client's goals and budget.
How do Support at Home clients book holiday visits with Alera?
The care manager at the client's registered provider confirms what physiotherapy or exercise physiology is authorised. Alera then delivers the agreed visits at home as an associated provider, and the client keeps their current provider.
What should the client do on weeks without a visit?
Follow the short routine the physio or EP leaves, using their own chair, bench or steps. If something feels wrong, stop and speak with their doctor, and call 000 in an emergency.
Who can enquire about in-home physio or EP with Alera?
Care managers at registered providers, private clients and families can all enquire. DVA clients can ask about eligibility on enquiry. We do not offer occupational therapy or NDIS services.