More therapy services for older Australians

Older Australians will receive more services including physiotherapy, occupational therapy, massage and podiatry with a $3.2 million Federal Government funding boost, Federal Minister for Ageing Kevin Andrews announced today.

The money will go to Day Therapy Centres which help older people maintain or recover a level of independence so they can stay in their own homes or low level care.

The $3.2 million will fund 12 successful applicants in the Day Therapy Centres Programme Initiative. A further $258,000 will be spent on evaluation.

One of the successful applicants – Strathdon Community Day Therapy Centre in Melbourne – will use its extra $167,324 to establish a ‘Golden Age Gymnasium’. The money will also see the first Day Therapy Centre established in the ACT.

“The total $3.476 million of new funding is on top of the current annual funding of $29 million to 150 Day Therapy service providers,” Mr Andrews said.

“This extra money means more therapy services can be offered, including physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech pathology, massage and podiatry.”

The successful applicants are:

• Inverell, NSW: H.N McLean Memorial Retirement Village will focus on people living in their own homes, including people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander background. There will be group sessions and working with other services to provide home visits.
• Leichhardt, NSW: Lucan Care will focus on people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and people with dementia and/or challenging behaviours. There will be traditional therapies as well as education about healthy ageing and walking groups.
• Central Sydney Area Health Servic, NSW: General Geriatric & Rehabilitation Medicine (GGRM) will focus on people diagnosed with dementia and/or challenging behaviours, living in their own homes, who are often denied access to services due to behaviour management and safety issues. The services provided will be home based.
• Grenfell Multipurpose Service will target people at risk of losing their independence, including retired farmers and clients returning from rehabilitation. Services will include physiotherapy, podiatry and speech pathology. There will be centre, home based and outreach services to isolated rural villages.
• Macleod, Victoria: Baptist Community Care will conduct a falls prevention programme for people who are socially isolated at home, and who have reduced balance and a history of falls and/or a fear of falling.
• Forest Hill, Victoria: Strathdon Community will establish a ‘Golden Age Gymnasium’ and build on a piloted falls program to focus on people with potential risk of falling and people with stroke and dementia conditions.
• Mareedba Garden Settlement Day Therapy Centre, Queensland will focus on clients with dementia/challenging behaviours and work with other providers in a rural community.
• Elizabeth, South Australia: Anglicare SA Inc; will run a mobility clinic for people living in their own home, including those from culturally and linguistically diverse, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, backgrounds. Services will be delivered by Resthaven Inc, Helping Hand Aged Care and the Royal District Nursing Service.
• Glynde, Adelaide: LHI Retirement Services will focus on people living at home with early dementia. The therapy programme will consist of six weeks of twice-weekly centre based activities, followed by six weeks of home-based visits.
• Harvey, Western Australia: Harvey Health and Community Services Group Inc will focus on people who have lost a degree of physical functionality and people with early stage dementia.
• Hobart, Tasmania: Southern Cross Care will provide a mobile therapy unit for people with dementia and/or challenging behaviours who are reluctant to leave their homes and for clients living in rural areas not able to access transport. There will be traditional