What is Centre Based Care (CBC)?

Living independently and engaging with people in social groups can be difficult as a person grows older, but it’s not impossible.

Last updated: October 4th 2022

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Arts, craft, cooking and gardening may be part of the centre’s interactive activities. [Source: Shutterstock]

Key points:

Centre Based Care is a great way to meet new people in your community
These centres provide a range of activities, like arts and crafts, cooking, gardening, and so much more
Fees for CBC can differ from centre to centre, so make sure you understand how much a centre will cost to attend

Feeling connected to your community and engaging with others is really important to your mental health and wellbeing.

Centre Based Care (CBC) is a great option to meet all of these needs while also providing fun, interactive activities.

What is CBC?

Centre Based Care is a program delivered through nationwide specialised care centres that can help you, or a loved one, who requires care through community engagement.

CBC is when a person receives care in a ‘centre setting’ and engages in structured group activities.

These centres can be a great way to be engaged in activities, meet new people and foster friendships with others within your community.

CBC services

There are various, individualised CBC services offered to the elderly and frail, as well as their carers, including:

Social support
Group excursions/outings
Light refreshments, as well as meals
Transport associated with getting to and from the centre, as well as for outings
Respite for carers and overnight care
Day therapy

These CBC services can add greatly to your wellbeing and get you out and about in your community, as well as give your carer a break and some time to do personal tasks.

What can I expect from CBC?

Centre Based Care programs actively encourage positive ageing and wellbeing amongst the older people that attend the centre.

This can be through activities that stimulate participants emotionally, mentally and physically and provide enjoyment and connectedness.

Centres may also deliver daily exercise programs and access to allied health needs, like diversional therapy, or access to hairdressing and physiotherapy.

Arts, crafts, cooking and gardening may also be part of the centre’s interactive activities for clients.

Fees

CBC fees and charges may vary from centre to centre, with most charging a daily fee to cover everything from transport to group excursions/outings and meals or light refreshments.

Other centres may charge clients a daily fee as well as fees for the day’s activities/outings and meals.

You should ensure to enquire with your CBC provider about the fees and charges involved with the service.

Centre Based Respite Care (CBRC)

Caring for an elderly or frail loved one can be difficult and often a well-deserved break is needed. CBRC offers individualised social and recreational activities to carers.

Carers can also attend day programs which may include “incursions”, outdoor or indoor activities or holiday programs.

To ensure care planning needs are met and the person being cared for is happy and lives a fulfilling life in their later years, it is important the services offered by the centre provide meaningful, creative and intellectually challenging activities.

Would you enjoy meeting new people in CBC centres? Tell us in the comments below.