$8.3 million boost to services for older Victorians

Older Victorians are to benefit from the Government’s decision to commit an additional $8.3 million to the Home and Community Care (HACC) program.

Aged Care Minister Bronwyn Pike said the Government has committed an extra $5.62 million to expand services and a further $2.7 million to support one-off projects.

The funding increase includes $3.12 million in new funding to expand Adult Day Groups and $2.5 million to expand core HACC services for frail older people.

‘The Government is committed to improving services for older people in all of Victoria,’ Ms Pike said.

‘The lives of thousands of older Victorians will be enriched as a result of the increase in resources for this program.

Priority has been given to services experiencing high demand and to special needs groups including frail older people:

• From a culturally and linguistically diverse background;

• From an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander background;

• Living in remote and isolated areas;

• Living in insecure accommodation or who were homeless.

‘Adult Day Groups have been expanded to ensure extra hours for programs and more access to allied health services, such as physiotherapy and podiatry,’ said Ms Pike.

The Government recognised the importance of supporting people to live in their own homes and was providing much-needed funds to expand services with the added benefit of relieving pressure on Victoria’s hospitals and nursing homes.

The increased funding would allow more than 600 separate projects to proceed.

These include:

• $1.04 million to expand culturally-appropriate HACC services—an increase of 20 per cent;

• $0.2 million to expand HACC services for people from an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander background—an increase of 12 per cent;

• $1.7 million to increase the range of HACC services available to people living in rural Victoria;

• $0.81 million to expand HACC services for people living in insecure housing or who are at risk of homelessness;

• More than 250 one-off grants for agencies to buy equipment to support the delivery of projects, including vehicles to transport frail older people to adult day groups, installation of handrails and ramps at adult day group facilities and purchase of kitchen equipment to develop delivered meals programs;

• More than 60 short-term projects to improve the quality, effectiveness and efficiency of HACC services.

Ms Pike said the key priority of the funding boost was to expand adult day groups and key HACC services for frail older Victorians.

‘In order to maximise the benefits of this funding increase, it is vital that services be tailored to ensure they are appropriate for the State’s culturally and linguistically-diverse communities,’ Ms Pike said.

Ms Pike said the Government had committed an extra $41 million over four years for HACC and HACC-related services—unmatched by the Commonwealth Government.

HACC programs are provided in Victoria through more than 500 service groups and agencies, including 78 local councils.

Services include nursing, allied health care, personal care, property maintenance, home care, day activity groups, respite and provision of meals.