Palliative Care ACT offers a range of services in and around ACT, including in hospitals, residential care facilities or in the homes or preferred environments of individuals.

Their services include:

• A life story program
• A bereavement program
• A directory of all palliative care service in ACT
• Education about palliative care for professional and community members

Please visit the website or contact Palliative Care ACT on (02) 6255 5771 and office [at] pallcareact.org.au for more information. 

Multiple Sclerosis Australia (MSA) offer a suite of services and support to help minimise the impact of living with multiple sclerosis, while the search for a cure continues. This includes support in referral advice and information, everyday tips and tricks, education, emotional support, wellbeing support, symptom management, opportunities to connect with others, employment support, living arrangement support, individual assessment and NDIS and My Aged Care support.

Please visit the website or contact MSA on 1800 042 138 and msconnect [at] ms.org.au for more information.

BaptistCare operate Red Hill Social Club which provides day respite for the elderly and people with low to medium level dementia. The Club offers an activities program which can involve card and board games, arts and craft, light exercise and special theme and event days.

Transport may be arranged for those who require it.

Please visit the website or contact BaptistCare on (02) 6195 3130 for more information.

Woden Community Services (WCS) offer an ‘Assistance with Care and Housing’ program (ACHA) for financially disadvantaged older people. ACHA can assist with obtaining services, housing and care to assist older people to remain living in the community.

Please visit the website or contact WCS on (02) 6181 2815 and acha [at] wcs.org.au for more information.

Dance Development Centre (DDC) offer dance classes for over 50’s, these include:

• Musical Theatre, a jazz dance style class
• Ballet, a non-syllabus class to learn and master classical ballet steps

Please visit the website or contact DDC on (02) 6259 1550 and canberra [at] dancedevelopment.com.au for more information.

The ACT Elderly Chinese Welfare Society organises activities for elderly Chinese members of the community and referral to and provision of welfare services. This includes monthly lunch gatherings.

Please visit the website or contact the ACT Elderly Chinese Welfare Society on 0412 481 607 for more information.

Uniting run a Healthy Living for Seniors program for older people to help individuals stay involved with friends and the community. The program includes outings and excursions, exercise and fitness, skills-building, interest groups, arts and crafts, and cultural groups. Transport to Health Living for Seniors activities can also be arranged.

Please visit the website or contact Uniting on 1800 486 484 or ask [at] uniting.org for more information.

The Taoist Tai Chi Society of Australia offer Tai Chi and Pain Relief classes to assist with chronic health conditions, including arthritis, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, falls risk, stroke and brain injury and osteoporosis.

Please visit the website or contact the Taoist Tai Chi Society of Australia in the ACT on (02) 6249 6117 and act [at] taoist.org for more information.

Tennis Seniors ACT is open to anyone aged 35 years and older and entitles members to participate in all seniors’ tennis events and activities in the ACT and around Australia. They also regularly hold social events.

Please visit the website for more information.

The Belconnen Arts Centre (BAC) ‘Dance for Wellbeing’ program is supported by ACT Health and provides regular dance classes for ACT communities with Parkinson’s disease, Dementia, Multiple Sclerosis and other chronic conditions.

Their classes include:

• Ricochet (Dance for All), a weekly dance class at Belconnen and Uniting Amala Gordon designed for adults with physical challenges who want to keep their body and brain active and healthy, regardless of their mobility, skill or age
• Offbeat (Dance for People with Parkinson’s), a joint weekly dance program with Parkinson’s ACT specifically designed for people with Parkinson’s held in Belconnen and Greenway
• Vivacity! (Dance for People with Dementia), a joint weekly dance program with Dementia Australia for people living with Dementia and their carers held in Belconnen and Phillip

They also offer a Dance for Wellbeing online program which provides participants with video tutorials to dance at home.

Please visit the website or contact BAC on (02) 6173 3300 and philip.piggin [at] belconnenartscentre.com.au for more information.