Description: |
The Home Community-Based Care services (HCBC) provided by Western Cape Government Health promotes good health and the prevention of ill health. HCBC is a responsive service to the needs of the community that seeks to make health services more proactive and patient-centred. These services function through broad partnerships with role players in government sectors and the community, such as the Department of Social Development, the Western Cape Education Department, non-profit organisations and others. The aim is that the services offered can be tailor-made for the unique circumstances of each client or the community that the community-based services team serves. HCBC services allow you to be cared for in familiar surroundings with loved ones. The service also aims to empower a community to take care of its unique health needs and bring the concept of Community-Orientated Primary Care to life. Should you be ill and require care at home, our HCBC team can be contacted for a referral. The service provided aims to do the following:
Who can benefit from this service? Any person with an appropriate referral from a Western Cape Government Health facility to HCBC services can benefit. A patient will meet the criteria to receive HCBC if they:
If you need Home Community-Based Care, a healthcare worker will visit you at home to assess your immediate healthcare needs and direct how your care plan and appropriate interventions and treatments can be delivered by Community Health Workers (CHWs). The needs of the patient will be reviewed every 6 weeks as part of the programme. |
Instructions: |
The Role of the Community Health Worker (CHW)
![]() Our CHWs are trained to develop stable personal relationships with each household, which builds understanding, empathy, and trust. These healthcare workers assist the patients to adjust at home by considering personal factors such as their coping abilities, lifestyle issues, behaviour patterns and habits. The CHWs have an important role to play in educating communities as a whole and interacting with households regularly. Please note: CHWs do not provide around-the-clock or fulltime care and are not to be used as a replacement for a domestic worker. They will only visit you according to your treatment schedule. If you’ve been hospitalised and require home-based care after being discharged, our CHWs will assist patients by providing care and support for up to 6 weeks. This can be extended if necessary, following a review of the initial care plan set up by the healthcare team. Patients who live with HIV, TB, diabetes, hypertension, asthma and mental illnesses can also be assisted with their prescribed medication intake and supported by HCBC to live positively with their illness. This in turn can reduce the need for acute medical services. Community interventions provided by the team of CHWs focus on projects and activities in any given community that will reduce risk factors that contribute significantly to the burden of disease such as:
Services to households include a holistic service package, from newborns to the elderly. These services include:
How to access this service Please contact your district office to find out how you can access HCBC through your nearest health facility. One can contact a public health facility near you for an HCBC referral. |
Provided At: |
These facility categories: |
Government Body: | (Western Cape Government) |
Price: |
All hidden costs incurred by the NPO partners are not adequately subsidised and in order to prevent a dependency syndrome, a small freewill contribution could be made to the NPO partner to reimburse transport costs incurred by their volunteers. |