?Aged Care Funding Boosts Services at Home
23 July 2013 at 9:15 am
?Aged care providers will have access to $280 million in funding that allows older Australians to receive care at home under a new community care program.
?The Federal Government program, Home and Community Care, will improve access to services like cleaning, personal care, meals, transport and gardening.
?Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Senator Jacinta Collins said ?the Commonwealth Home and Community Care Program will provide funding for basic maintenance, care and support services for older people and their carers, who live in the community and whose capacity for independent living is at risk, or who are at risk of premature or inappropriate admission to long term residential care.
?The program classifies older people as people aged 65 years and over and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 50 years and over.
?Senator Collins said services such as transport and cleaning helped older Australians to stay in their own homes as they age and maintain their independence.
?She said most of the new services will start next year.
?New and existing service providers in all States and Territories except Western Australia and Victoria can apply for the first round of funding.
?The Commonwealth program does not apply in Victoria and Western Australia but organisations in those states can apply to provide services elsewhere, Senator Collins said.
?Applications close at 2pm Monday, September 2 2013.
