Connecting Older Australians to Aged Care Services
The aged care system is complex, with some people finding it more difficult than others to navigate and access the services they need. While My Aged Care is the starting point to find out about and access aged care services, there have long been calls for more localised and face-to-face support.
The Care Finder program was announced in the 2021-22 Budget as part of the Government's response to the Aged Care Royal Commission recommendations and will be delivered through PHNs.
The services are expected to be delivered from 1 January 2023 to 30 June 2025.
In line with the Care Finder Policy Guidance provided by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care, Country SA PHN has commissioned care finder services in its region.
The service providers are, Country & Outback Health (working with FocusOne Health, iREACH Rural Health and Summit Health). They will be working with people who are eligible for aged care services but who require intensive in person support to do so. Referrals will not be required to access the service.
Older persons will access the services either through Care Finder organisations connecting with them via their trusted community networks or older people contacting Care Finders directly.
Resthaven and Centacare Catholic Country SA are also joining the Care Finder network. These organisations previously have a long-standing expertise in a navigation role for very vulnerable people. They will focus on assisting older people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
Service providers will establish, deliver and maintain a network to provide specialist and intensive assistance to support older people. The program will specifically connect and engage older people who have significant difficulty accessing aged care services themselves and are at risk of otherwise “falling through the cracks”.
This will include:
Care Finder program will seek to improve aged care connections for vulnerable older people. Anticipated outcomes include:
