New day care centre in Mandurah WA
Minister for Ageing Justine Elliot has officially opened the Coolibah Day Centre as part of a $34.6 million commitment to fund innovative day respite services within aged care homes.
The Coolibah Day Centre is a day respite service within the Mandurah Retirement Village in Mandurah, Western Australia.
“The new respite services located in aged care homes will provide carers with a well-earned rest in the knowledge that their loved ones are being well looked after,” Mrs Elliot said.
This program falls under the National Respite for Carers Program which helps around 130,000 carers across Australia access services such as respite care, counselling and support – every year.
Mrs Elliot said, unlike residential respite, the person receiving care does not need an Aged Care Assessment Team assessment to take advantage of the service.
“Establishing new innovative respite centres within residential aged care homes makes a lot of sense – because they take advantage of the existing infrastructure, services and skills,” Mrs Elliot said.
As part of the funding, Coolibah Day Centre receives $1,173,450 over four years to provide day respite care to the local community.
“The Coolibah Day Centre provides access to professional staff including visiting GPs, pharmacy reviews, clinical and psychiatric nurses – and also through activities such as outings and entertainment for care recipients. It provides high, low and emergency respite care seven days per week – assisting up to 84 carers per week – and 3,822 hours of respite per year.
