Better access to healthcare for South Australia’s priority poulation
An estimated 110,000 adults, or 22% of the population aged 65 years and over reside in country South Australia. High proportion of older people are generally found in the outer regional Local Government Areas of the Country SA PHN region such as in the Fleurieu and Yorke Peninsula.
As this is predicted to rise to 27% over the next decade, CSAPHN is instrumental in improving access to high quality primary healthcare for older South Australians. As a priority population, the needs of older people are explored through our community advisory committees and clinical councils along with service providers, local health networks and general practice.
Currently, just over 22% of Country SA PHN’s population is aged over 65 years and this is predicted to increase to 27% over the next 12 years (2020-2032). While the average annual growth of population for over 65s is consistent across all our regions, some of our areas are going to be impacted differently by their overall population growth or decline over the next decade.
Navigating the aged care system can be difficult for all of us and even more so for older country South Australians and their families.
Therefore, we are establishing a network of ‘care finders’ to help navigate the system and ensure that older Australians can access the help they need to age well in place or access aged care support and timely care.
Care finders support vulnerable older people who would not be able to arrange services without with intensive support and do not have a family member or friends who can help.
Assisting with the population growth
The regions closest to metropolitan Adelaide; Adelaide Hills, and Gawler – Two Wells SA3 are predicted to have the greatest overall population growth however, the proportion of population over 65 does not change as much as other regions with different population projections.
Fleurieu – Kangaroo Island, and Yorke Peninsula SA3s are both areas predicted to continue their growth as popular areas for retirement over the next decade. Country SA PHN will continue to increase support and capacity to assist with this growth.
CSAPHN activities to support ageing
Southern Cross Care SA/NT delivering online group exercise sessions for 65 years or older, or 50 years or older for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people. The program aims to increase health and wellbeing of eligible South Australians living in the country-side including Kangaroo Island, The Barossa, Riverlands, Yorke Peninsula, The Lime Coast and beyond.
Interested individuals can ring Southern Cross Care with an expression of interest, which will lead to an eligibility assessment. Or individuals can be referred to the program by Allied Health Practitioners and Health Professionals.
Participants found eligible will be scheduled for an initial health assessment, followed by twice weekly exercise for 12 week and a post intervention assessment. All program assessments and exercise will be undertaken by an exercise physiologist or exercise scientist. The program is delivered via telehealth.
SCC have a significant background in telehealth, and have continued to support clients over the last 2 years using this medium. For project participants SCC can offer holistic pathways to better health during and after the 12 week program, with Dietetic, Social work, Occupational Therapy and Caregiver support also available through telehealth.
Eligible participants will:
Those found too high -functioning will be sent information about prevention of decline and option to engage in a better health pathway. Those found to be too low functioning will have a letter sent to their GP, advising of our finding and offering engagement with an aged care provider to support their needs.
A new program by Dementia Australia, which is an outreach specialist nurse service delivering dementia specific palliative care support throughout Country SA.
Support country Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACF) with the costs associated with establishing suitable telehealth solutions by offering Telehealth Support Grants.
Arthritis SA
An on-line exercise and wellbeing program for older people living with musculoskeletal conditions across country SA. The program will focus on the need for early intervention and target those people at risk of deterioration to avoid unnecessary hospitalisation.
Psychological therapies in Residential Aged Care Facilities service is provided by Mind Australia, FocusOne Health, Summit Health and Sonder. The program is an in-reach services to enable residents of Residential Aged Care Facilities with mental illness to access mental health services similar to those available in the community through the Better Access to psychologists, Psychiatrists and General Practice through the MBS Initiative (Better Access).
