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Some older Australians need additional support to access the support they need to remain in their own home. The barriers that contribute to this can include:
- communication and language barriers
- difficulty processing information due to cognitive decline
- reluctance to engage with a need for support
- reluctance to engage with government services.
In response to a recommendation of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, the Department of Health and Aged Care implemented the care finder program nationally, following the successful Aged Care System Navigators trial program.
- Commencing in January 2023, the care finder program has provided tailored intensive support to older people in the target group to:
- help people understand and access aged care and connect with other relevant supports in their community
- target people who have one or more reasons for requiring intensive support to interact with My Aged Care and access aged care services and other relevant community supports.
- resolve homelessness or reduce the risk of homelessness.
CHN commissioned 5 care finder providers within the ACT to deliver these services:
- ADACAS
- Community Services #1
- North Community Services
- Woden Community Services
- Meridian.
Together over the last year, the care finders have provided specialised and intensive face-face assistance with the vulnerable population, who would otherwise fall through the gaps in the aged care system. Between the 5 providers, they had 208 new cases, with a monthly average of 130 active cases. They provided:
- 498 support activities to find required aged care supports and services or to access other relevant supports
- 505 high level check-ins and follow-up support after service commencement
- 854 engagement and rapport building activities.
Good News Story
Following a scam, Edith* (not her real name) was left facing serious financial hardship in her early 60s. Edith was struggling to gain employment and relied upon Job Seeker payments. Edith reported feelings of humiliation and stress and was becoming increasingly worried about how to afford life’s basic needs. Care finder began to support Edith to apply for the disability support pension, recognising Edith’s physical and mental health conditions. Care finder began to explore other options, such as the Aged Care Pension, however she was too young.
When speaking with Centrelink regarding the Disability Support Pension, they granted Edith a full exemption from applying for work until next year, which took a huge mental load off Cassandra’s shoulders. Care finder then began actioning some Aged Care services, beginning with obtaining a hoarding and squalor code for Cassandra’s home. This was a huge step forward in Edith’s journey, as it alleviated a barrier to her receiving other services in the future.
Since joining the Care finder program, Edith is now attending a mental health peer support group, is receiving assistance from Care Financial, has had an energy efficiency assessment with Vinnies, received food vouchers and hampers from Salvos and is also connected to a community pantry. Edith is also now attending 2 separate free social groups which has improved her mental health significantly after developing friendships within the group. She has also mended relationships within her family.
