The Aged Care Program provides advice and information to GPs on aged care issues and services in the local area, government and non-government programs. The Aged Care Program collaborates with local falls awareness and prevention programs and advanced care planning information.

For information and advice about falls prevention or advanced care planning, telephone or email Margaret Mogg at the Division.

 DVA Funding for GPs to assist chronically ill Veterans October 2011

The Coordinated Veterans’ Care (CVC) Program is a positive step to improve the wellbeing and quality of care for chronically ill Gold Card holders. The program will pay General Practitioners and nursing providers to coordinate care for Gold Card holders who are at risk of hospitalisation. Through improved community based care, the program is intended to improve the health of participants by: providing ongoing planned and coordinated care from your GP and a nurse educating and empowering participants to self manage their conditions encouraging the most socially isolated to participate in community activities

 For more information click here.

For DVA website information about the program click here.

  Aged Care Access Initiative

The Aged Care Access Initiative replaced the Aged Care GP Panel Initiative in July 2008. This initiative aims to improve access to primary care (GPs and allied health services) for residents of aged care facilities.

GP Incentives in a Nutshell - Summary of Incentives March 2011 click here

There are two tiers or qualifying service levels for the aged care incentives. If doctors provide 60 eligible Medicare services in aged care facilities in the first tier they will be paid $1,500. Under the second tier they will receive $3,500 for providing 140 services. The maximum payment per GP will be $5000 per financial year. Qualifying Medicare items include consultations, after hours consultations,comprehensive medical assessments, contributions to care plans and residential medication management reviews.

For more information call PIP on 1800 222 032 or www.medicareaustralia.gov.au  

 CVC - Coordinated Veterans Care Program 

For more information click here.

For DVA website information about the program click here.

Referral to Dr John Barnett - Staff Specialist in Geriatric Medicine at Bowral Hospital

For more information about referral please click here.

Referral to Dr Sid Williams and Dr Ratna at SMHSOP

Specialist Mental Health Services for Older People (SMHSOP) is available for people 65 and over with dementia with behavioural concerns and /or mental health issues. For referral information please click here.

Resources

Aged Care and Chronic Disease MBS Item Numbers - information available from Margaret Mogg.

Advanced Care Directives

The My Wisheswebsite contains useful information on advanced care planning for patients, members of the general community, healthcare staff and residential aged care staff. My Wishes has been set up to be relevant and accessible across care sectors and the community. For more information please visit www.mywishes.org.au

Order form for booklet “My Health, My Future, My Choice – An Advance Care Directive for NSW”

Our Division’s Advanced Care Directive flyer

Community Resources

Carers Support Group Calendar 2011

Dementia Support Services - Angela Lowman, Dementia Adviser Phone: 4869 5651

Older Parent Carer Service Summary

Aged Care Community Resource - Contact list

Wingecarribee Aged & Disability Pack 2010 - 2011 A guide to available services 

Department of Veteran Affairs (DVA)

DVA and Dose Administration Aides flow chart

A letter to GPs about Dose Administration Aides for veterans

Eligibilty Criteria for Southern Cluster Aged Care and Rehabilitation

For information please click here.

Exercise Options

Falls Prevention 

1. Stepping On - Falls Prevention Groups for 70+

• 6 week multidisciplinary group program
• At Bowral Hospital
• Referral and Information Centre (RIC) Ph: 1800 728 968

2.    Agility Group and individual assessment for people at significant risk of falling - fax referral required to Dr John Barnett Staff Specialist Fax: 4861 0172 

Useful Websites

Dept Health & Ageing www.health.gov.au
DVA www.dva.gov.au
Information Line 1300 55 1918
Fact sheets www.dva.gov.au/factsheets/default.htm

Alzheimers Aust. www.alzheimers.org.au
National dementia Helpline 1800 100 500
Excellent fact sheets www.alzheimers.org.au/content.cfm?infopageid=680

Carers Association www.carersnsw.asn.au
Carer Support Kits
Short term counselling 1800 242 636 Mon – Fri
Very good fact sheets on a range of topics of interest to carers.

Continence Foundation of Australia www.continence.org.au

Allied Health Care
This Division has been allocated a small amount of funding to access Allied Health services not provided through Commonwealth funding or EPC. The funding has provided private speech pathology and dietetics, engaging out of area allied health staff and some local additional occupational therapy and counselling sessions. We have also been working on providing a preventative dental health program.

The Aged Care Accreditation and Standards Agency

Information and clarification around the Accreditation requirements for RACF.
http://www.accreditation.org.au/

Famous Bowel Buster Recipe - useful in aged care facilities

BOWEL BUSTER RECIPE
(some residential aged care facilities have almost eliminated the use of aperients with this recipe used over a period of 3+months)

FRUIT JUICE
2/3 prune juice
1/3 pear juice
Commence regime with 1 glass of juice with breakfast each day. Increase to each meal until natural bowel activity resumes.

FRUIT PUREE
1 kilo pitted prunes
1 kilo apples
Give 2 tablespoons of fruit puree at breakfast with cereals. Porridge is the preferred cereal used.