Govt trial to help elderly navigate aged care

The federal government has launched three new trial programs offering face-to-face assistance to senior Australians and their families in every state and territory, including selected rural and remote areas.

Launched under the Aged Care System Navigator initiative, the $7.4 million trial consists of a network of aged-care navigator centres, information hubs and specialist advisers that aims to streamline aged-care access.

The trials will also offer some services over the phone or online to maximise the reach of the trials and test the way in which these services can offer meaningful support to people navigating the aged care sector.

The three trial programs consist of:

• 32 aged-care information hubs to provide locally targeted information and build people’s capacity to engage with the aged-care system.
• 21 community hubs where members support each other in navigating aged care and healthy ageing.
• Nine specialist support workers to offer one-on-one support for vulnerable people.
   

Additionally, the programs’ scope has been extended to better support seniors living in regional Western Australia with face-to-face services in the Kimberley, Mid-West (Murchison) and Pilbara regions.

The trials will be delivered by 30 delivery partners led by COTA Australia.

The programs build on a trial that started in October 2018, also launched under the Aged Care System Navigator Measure.

This earlier trial offers support to seniors making complex financial decisions when planning for, or entering, aged care by providing access to aged-care Financial Information Service Officers (FISO) in the Department of Human Services.

Further information on the information hubs, community hubs and specialist support worker trials, including locations and local delivery partners, is available from www.AgedCareNavigators.org.au.

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