Services for older people and their carers

29 September 2009

The World Health Organisation provides startling statistics on the ageing population. Today, one in every 10 persons is aged 60 and older, and by 2050, one out of every five will be an older person. By 2150 one third of the world population is expected to be 60 years of age or older.
International Day of Older Persons (1 October) gives the whole community an opportunity to recognise and applaud the achievements and ongoing contributions made by seniors in Australia. The event’s 2009 theme is Celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the International Year of Older Persons: Towards a Society for All Ages.
In this rapidly ageing world, Hunter New England Health is helping raise awareness of the International Day of Older Persons by outlining a range of its services aimed at older people and their carers.
The Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) based in Armidale, covers a large geographical area, from Uralla in the south up to the Queensland border, and from Delungra in the west to Ebor in the east.
ACAT’s role is to determine the care needs of frail, older persons and to help them access the most appropriate type of service. This is done by doing a comprehensive assessment. The majority of assessments are conducted in a person’s home. Assessments can also be done in hospitals, as well as in residential age care facilities.
If an older person wants to remain living at home, there are a number of services available that can assist them. There are Community Aged Care Packages (CACPs), Extended Aged Care at Home (EACH) packages and Extended Aged Care at Home Dementia (EACHD) packages.  These packages of care are individually planned and coordinated and funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing. In order to receive one of these packages, a person must be assessed by an ACAT team member.
There are also other services older people can receive that do not need assessment by ACAT, including Home Care (HACC), Meals on Wheels, Day Therapy Centres and National Respite for Carers Program.
To enter residential care for either respite or permanent care, a person must first be assessed by ACAT as being eligible.
From October, older people from the Armidale area will be able to access the Transitional Aged Care Program (TACP) following an ACAT assessment done in hospital. This is a flexible form of care, which is goal orientated, time limited and therapy focused.
Community members wanting more information should contact New England Aged Care Assessment Team Northern Division (Armidale) on (02) 6776 9688.

(HNE-2008)

Contact: Carisa Green

Phone: (02) 6767 7135 or 0428 106 183