Over 5,000 more senior Australians will have access to specialised care programs to help them continue living independent at home with a major increase in Short-Term Restorative Care places announced by the Federal Government.
A $58 million annual funding boost means the number of senior Australians receiving restorative care each year will almost triple - from 3,088 to 8,125 - with expanded programs increasing care places from 475 to 1,250.
“This is a life-changing program, giving senior Australians more choices for longer, better and happier lives,” said Aged Care and Senior Australians minister Ken Wyatt .
“Older people have things that happen to them which can rob them of their confidence and this program is a proven way of getting them back on their feet.
“People want and deserve flexible services when they need them, to restore and maintain their independence for as long as possible.
“Short-term restorative care boosts health, gets people up and about and improves their wellbeing and outlook on life.
Restorative care programs are delivered over a period of up to eight weeks, with clear goals agreed with each individual.
Re-ablement can include strengthening exercises, physiotherapy and occupational therapy, along with home and furniture modifications, to make life easier and better.
“This short-term intervention can make a lasting difference to self-sufficiency and happiness and the feedback from participants has been overwhelming,” said Minister Wyatt.
“While this new allocation will boost restorative care in our major cities, there is also a strong emphasis on increasing the number of places across regional, rural and remote centres.”
In total, 350 of the new short-term restorative care places will be allocated by July 2019, with another 425 places to be allocated in 2019-20.
The news has been welcomed by peak bodies.
Chief Executive of COTA Australia, Ian Yates, said the restorative care program is an “important part of reshaping aged care to enable older people to remain independent longer and have more control over the support and care they receive, rather than becoming more and more dependent on services.”
Aged & Community Services Australia chief Pat Sparrow said: “This is a very welcome announcement and addition to the aged care system. It highlights how critical it is that the public discussion and Royal Commission investigates and considers how the community’s expectations for supporting older Australians are best met and how aged care will be financed into the future to do that.
“Restorative Care plays an important role in the aged care mix, providing short term intensive support when older people need help to stay home and get back on their feet.”
Information about the 2018−19 ACAR short-term restorative care outcomes, including details of the successful approved providers, is available at www.agedcare.health.gov.au/2018-19acar