Better aged care access for south east NSW

New South Wales (NSW) Greater Southern Area Health Service has announced a new service to help older people in south east NSW access acute care services and avoid unnecessary hospital admissions.

Four new nurse positions in emergency departments at Bega, Cooma, Batemans Bay and Moruya hospitals are designed to work with patients, carers and community services to identify the needs of older patients and connect them to appropriate services.

The coordinator of aged and extended care services, Marianne Lackner, says the scheme will improve older people’s health and support them to stay at home independently.

She says the health system can be complex and daunting for older people.

“It’s very, very confronting and very confusing for older people, especially because they really are very vulnerable. They are not really sure where to go,” she said.

“At least having these positions with that expertise and training to understand specific needs for older people will be a great advantage to older people and their carers.”