Additional Funding for Home and Community Care Services in Gippsland Region

Friday, March 11, 2011

ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR HOME AND COMMUNITY CARE SERVICES IN GIPPSLAND REGION

Older Victorians in the Gippsland Region who live in their own homes will benefit this year from an $11.9 million boost to aged care services provided to them across the state through the Home and Community Care (HACC) program - a joint initiative of the federal and state government.

Minister for Health and Ageing David Davis today said the additional funding would allow more frail, older people and younger people with a disability to be able to remain in their own homes and communities.

Mr Davis said that HACC initiative delivers affordable and accessible care to help meet the individual needs of older people, people with a disability and their carers.

“The Federal Government contributed $7.1 million and the Victorian Government contributed $4.8 million to the $11.9 million package. The jointly funded HACC program will provide $502.8 million in 2010-11 to about 480 agencies across Victoria. This is an increase of $30.3 million or 6.4 per cent on 2009-10,” he said.

Mr Davis said that a funding boost of about $347,000 funding boost for the Gippsland Region will increase access to care for people who wish to remain in their own homes and community, close to family and friends, for as long as possible.

“HACC services provide the practical assistance that many older Victorians and younger persons with disabilities need to complete every day tasks and retain their independence. It assists about 265,000 Victorians a year needing domestic help, nursing, allied health such as physio and podiatry, delivered meals, social support and personal care.

“With this latest funding boost, residents in the Gippsland Region will get an estimated extra 6600 hours of care to remain living at home and stay connected with their community,” Mr Davis said.

“This includes 1600 more hours of allied health services such as physiotherapy, podiatry and dietetics, 2100 more hours of personal care and an additional 600 hours of domestic assistance”.

Local Government Areas receiving funding include Bass Coast ($115,000), Baw Baw ($69,000), East Gippsland ($93,000), La Trobe ($19,800), South Gippsland ($20,600) and Wellington ($29,000).