Community strength and balance (referral)

All practices in the Te Whatu Ora Waikato region can refer to this service. 

Patients are eligible for community classes if they are:  

• aged 65 years and older living within the Waikato DHB boundary and meet criteria for publicly funded health services 
• able to get to and participate in weekly classes (with chair support and seated options) 
• aged 50-65 years can be referred if they meet the criteria and there are activities the person has stopped doing because they are afraid they might lose their balance, they worry about falling, and they use a mobility aid (primarily for outside assistance).  

• People in rest home or hospital care. 
• People living dependently in an aged care facility. 
• People with severe cognitive impairment. 

This is not a claimable service; this is a service that you can refer patients to as follows.

If the patient responds yes to one or more of the following.

• Have you fallen in the last year? 
• Are you scared of falling? 
• Have you stopped doing an activity because you might fall? 
• Do you need to use two hands to rise from a chair? 

Refer to local strength and balance services via BPAC eReferral as appropriate. The strength and balance service will determine who will benefit most from the in-home service (link) or community group classes.  

The referrer can indicate their appropriate service recommendation along with the clinical indicators supporting this. A further service stability assessment will be carried out with the person over the phone.  

Discretion will be used at triage regarding lack of transport or no local classes available as a reason for the in-home service.

A minimal cost (between $2-$5) will be charged to attend the weekly classes which will be discussed with the person when contacted by the service. 

This service is funded by ACC.