FEDERAL Member for New England Barnaby Joyce said 118 new aged care places will be delivered across the New England Electorate, worth an estimated $4,636,000, following the conclusion of the 2014 Aged Care Approvals Round (ACAR).
Mr Joyce said the additional places would help meet demand for quality aged care services in our community.
“This highly competitive ACAR clearly demonstrates renewed interest in aged care, following recent changes aimed at supporting service viability, reducing their compliance burden and increasing business flexibility,” Mr Joyce said.
“This was the highest number of residential aged care places sought through an ACAR since 2007.
“Older Australians in the New England Electorate will benefit from 44 new residential aged care places.
“A further 74 new home care places will help older Australians remain living in their own home for as long as possible.
Bupa Care Services, Armidale will have funding for 32 general aged care places with a further 10 places for financially and socially disadvantaged. While Nazareth House in Tamworth will receive funding for one financially and socially disadvantaged place and funding for an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander placement.
Uniting Care Ageing in Tamworth, Gunnedah and Inverell will receive funding for 32 home care places, including 10 level 2 category clients, 16 level 3 clients and 6 level 4 clients.
Two more organisations based in Armidale are recipients of home care funding. The Home Nursing Group will receive 6 Level 1 care placements, 6 Level 2 care placements, 8 Level 3 care placements and 6 Level 4 care placements, while the Integratedliving New England also based in Armidale, will receive advice it will be funded for two Level 1 places, 4 Level 2 places, 8 Level 3 places and 2 Level 4 places.
Mr Joyce said a home care place provided a co-ordinated package of services tailored to meet an individual’s specific care needs and range in estimated value of $8000 for Level 1, $14,000 for Level 2, $32,000 for Level 3 and $48,000 for Level 4.
The estimated value of residential cares places are $59,000 each.
“The Government believes older Australians want and deserve to have the support and care they need to live active and healthy lives, and to continue to choose the aged care services they need,” Mr Joyce said.
“I am pleased that these new aged care places will help meet the growing aged care needs of older Australians in the New England Electorate.”
The ACAR is the process that allocates funding for new Government residential aged care and home care places and for capital grants each year.
More information on the 2014 ACAR is available at: www.dss.gov.au/2014ACAR