THE FEDERAL government will fund the Community Visitors Scheme for a further 12 months to allow the final report into a comprehensive review of the program to be studied.
The scheme was introduced by the Department of Health in 1992 to recruit volunteers to provide friendship and companionship to people receiving government-subsidised aged care services but who were socially isolated or lonely.
It includes group visits in residential care and one-on-one visits to consumers of home care packages.
Australian Healthcare Associates were engaged last year to look at:
- How the scheme aligned with current aged care reforms.
- The potential to increase the role of volunteer visitors to provide additional support to consumers.
- Options for delivering services to home care and residential care consumers, in the context of potential ongoing reforms to home care.
- How uptake of the scheme in the home care setting could be enhanced.
- The extent to which the scheme serves people from special needs groups.
- Other community visitor services addressing social isolation, both domestically and internationally.
- Opportunities for streamlining program management, funding allocation and service structure with a view to reducing red tape for providers and the department.
The scheme provides visitors for more than 11,000 people at a cost last year of $16.9 million.
The review found a lack of awareness of the scheme and its operations was a “key barrier to uptake” in both home and residential care settings.
The scheme seen as a highly successful, with substantial benefit to visitors and consumers.
However, there was a problem in identifying special needs status and recruiting appropriate local visitors.
Aged Care Minister Ken Wyatt said the scheme was seen as great benefit to socially isolated people.
Scheme shows its worth
Among the report’s recommendations are:
- Broadening eligibility criteria to include recipients of the Commonwealth Home Support Program and Home and Community Care in WA and those assessed as eligible for but waiting for a home care package.
- Offering the scheme as part of a suite of programs for consumers as they transition across the aged care system, including individual and group social support activities provided through the home support program as well as social/leisure activities provided by residential care providers or offered within home care packages.
- Expanding the digital scheme (provided by Nundah Activity Centre) as an effective and low-cost way to service rural and remote consumers or those who are “hard to reach” (or to match with an appropriate visitor in their local area).
- Introducing approaches such as companion animals and use of technology.
- Promoting the service to providers, consumers and the wider public.
- Optimising support for special needs groups.
- Streamlining funding and developing a more consistent national approach.
