Armidale expo to promote Seniors Week

16 March 2009

The Northern Tablelands Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) is helping raise awareness of NSW Seniors Week by promoting its range of services aimed at older people and their carers.

Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) members – who provide outreach services throughout the Northern Tablelands - can help people decide what kind of care will best meet their needs when they are no longer able to manage at home without assistance.

Armidale-based registered nurse Joan Chandler said ACAT assessments can be carried out in a person’s own home or in hospital, free-of-charge. 

“Once the Aged Care Assessment Team has a clear understanding of a person’s care requirements, they will recommend or approve the services most appropriate to meet those needs,” Ms Chandler said.

“Early intervention, prevention and innovative treatment strategies in aged care provide an important pathway in helping older community members achieve improved quality of life.”

ACAT team members approve older people for Federal Government subsidised aged care such as respite care, residential aged care, Community Aged Care Packages (CACPs) or flexible care such as the Extended Aged Care at Home (EACH) package and the dementia-targeted Extended Aged Care at Home Dementia (EACHD) package.

The Northern Tablelands Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) will be celebrating NSW Seniors Week by participating in the Seniors Expo at the Armidale Bowling Club on Thursday 19 March 2009 between 10am and 4pm.

ACAT staff members will be available to talk to interested people, including family members and carers, to provide information and answer any questions about the service.

NSW Seniors Week runs from 15 to 22 March. With more than 500 events planned under the ‘Live Life’ banner, it is one of the biggest celebrations for seniors in the southern hemisphere.

Seniors Week is an initiative of State Governments, and in NSW the event receives support from DADHC. It is also receives significant funding from Local Governments and their communities. The week is designed to thank and recognise older people across the state for the contributions they provide to the community. 

For information about the program of events for Armidale during Seniors Week 2009 contact:
 
Christine Foord, Team Leader, Aged & Disability Services
Armidale Dumaresq Council
(02) 6770 3804 or (02) 6770 3832
Email: cfoord@armidale.nsw.gov.au

A photo of the ACAT team is available on request, by contacting Carisa Green.

(HNE-1779)

Contact: Carisa Green

Phone: (02) 6767 7135 or 0428 106 183