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.

Palliative Journey Active Learning Module

A number of GPs have particpated in this module. Click her for a helpful summary and photo - Palliative Journey.  

Resources

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

Advanced Care Directives

The assistance of the Central Coast Division of General Practice is gratefully acknowledged for the helpful following links.

ACP Fact Sheet
Let Me Decide
Plan of Treatment
Frequently Asked Questions
Capacity Checklist Information Sheet
Capacity Screen Checklist

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

2009 Support Group Flyer (new flyer coming soon)

Older Parent Carer Service Summary

Aged Care Community Resource - Contact list

Community Services for Older People in the Wingebarribee

Department of Veteran Affairs (DVA)

DVA and Dose Administration Aides flow chart

A letter to GPs about Dose Administration Aides for veterans

Exercise Options

Gentle Exercise Classes 2010

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

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
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 $1,000. Under the second tier they will receive $1,500 for providing 140 services. The maximum payment per GP will be $2,500 a year. Service totals will be calculated from 1 July to 30 June each year. The first incentive payments will be made to those GPs (rather than practices, although the practice need to be participating in PIP) reaching the targets in February 2009. Qualifying Medicare items include those for attending aged care facilities, comprehensive medical assessments, case conferences and residential medication management reviews.

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.

North West Melbourne Division of General Practice

ALM in Residential Aged Care
MBS Items
Residential and Aged Care Dementia and Delirium
GP & Residential Aged Care Kit

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.