Extra funding for ACT HACC services
Older and frail people, people with a disability and their carers living in the ACT will benefit from a further $1.9 million in funding for Home and Community Care services in the territory.
The funding will include extending the opening and operating hours of the programs conducted by the Aged Care and Rehabilitation Service at Kirra, Belconnen and Tuggeranong Day Care Centre that provide activities and respite for frail, elderly and other ACT residents living with dementia, as well as their carers.
Kirra and Tuggeranong day care centres will be open Monday to Friday from
8.30 am to 4.30 pm rather than only from 10.00 am to 2.00 pm.
Under the agreement between the Australian and ACT Governments, older people in the ACT will receive domestic assistance, personal care, social support and respite care – so they can remain in their homes longer.
The Home and Community Care target population in the ACT in 2007-2008 is nearly 28,000, about eight per cent of the territory’s total population.
The ACT’s 2007-2008 Home and Community Care plan includes:
· an additional $100,000 to increase the operating hours of Kirra and Tuggeranong Day Care Centre that provide activities and respite for eligible ACT residents who are frail, elderly or are living with dementia
· $250,000 to upgrade the equipment provided under the ACT Equipment Scheme, which provides eligible people with goods and equipment essential for their complex care needs
· further funding for domestic assistance, personal care, social support, respite care and home maintenance.
The additional funding represents an increase of 8.6 per cent over the previous year’s funds.
