Extra funding for HACC services in WA
A larger number of frail and older people in Western Australia will be able to remain in their own homes and communities as a result of increased funding for Home and Community Care (HACC) services.
The announcement to improve HACC services with $9.6 million in funding was made by Federal Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Mark Butler, this Wednesday (18 May).
This will include an investment of $6.9 million in new one-off projects in 2010-11, and represents a more than 7.9% increase in funding since 2009-10.
The HACC program, a joint initiative of the State and Commonwealth governments, aims to provide a range of basic maintenance and support services to assist frail older people and people with disabilities to live independently at home.
“We know that the majority of people would prefer to receive care in their own homes,” Mr Butler said.
He said the funding would enable people to “receive affordable and accessible care so they can complete everyday tasks and retain their independence”.
More than 270 organisations delivering HACC services across the state will also benefit from the funding.
WA’s peak body for Aged and Community Services (ACSWA) released a statement hours before Mr Butler’s announcement, stating that seniors were having in-home care services “curtailed across the State because providers of HACC services have been left in the dark about their allocation of growth funding, which should have been announced back in January 2011”.
