New community care entry point for Hunter NSW region
The Minister for Ageing, Justine Elliot, has launched the Community Care Access Point, which provides a centralised phone service for people in the Hunter Region, who need advice on, or access to, community care services.
The Community Care Access Point Demonstration Project received $1.03 million, funded through the Home and Community Care (HACC) program in 2007-08. It has been operating for four months.
It assists frail older people aged over 65 years and younger people with a disability living in the Hunter Region, who require information, assessment and referrals to local services for community care.
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The Community Care Access Point will be operated by the NSW Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care, and is using latest information technology to distribute information.
In the first four months, 2,800 calls were received by the Community Care Access Point, and 1,977 people had their needs assessed and were referred for services.
The Community Care Access Point is one of 14 demonstration sites to be set up across Australia.
“These sites reflect the whole of Government commitment to working together to improve the lives of older people and their carers,” Mrs Elliot said.
