Care finders provide extra support to access aged care services

ANETWORK of care finders to provide face-to-face support for people accessing aged careservices will be established across Gippsland.

In response to arecommendation of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, the federal government has fundedGippslandPrimary Health Network to commission the care finder program, complementing the existing ways of accessing My Aged Care.

Care finder in Gippsland will be delivered by three service providers -Latrobe Community Health Service, HAAG (Housing for the Aged Action Group), and MiCare.

Gippsland PHN acting chief executive, Angela Jacob,saidsome olderpeople needed extrasupport to navigate the aged care system and access My Aged Care.

“Thiscould be for anumberofreasons,” Mrs Jacob said.

“Some peoplehavecommunication and languagebarriers, difficulty processing information due to cognitive decline, or they may be reluctant to engagewith support including government services.

“Care finder will help people understand and access aged care services and connect with other relevant supports in their community.”

Mrs Jacob said that the care finder program targets older Australians eligible for aged care services who had one or more reasons for requiring intensive support.

“This includes people who are, or are not yet, receiving aged care services.

“Care finder assists people who don’thave family, friends, acarer, or arepresentative they are comfortable receiving help from and who is willing and able to help them access aged care services.

“We know there are people who need this extra support and that’s what care finder can provide.”

The details for care finder programin Gippsland are: au  HAAG -Housing for the Aged Action Group -referral and intake line. Phone 1300 765 178. Email intake@oldertenants. org.au

 Latrobe Community Health Servicedelivering throughout Gippsland. Phone 1800242696. Email carefinders@lchs.com.

 MiCare -delivering in Baw Baw and East Gippsland. Phone 0499 885 495. Email suzanne.coombs@micare.com.au

For more details to the Gippsland PHN website at https://gphn.org.au/what-wedo/ programs/programs-aged-care/