Home away from home for older Queenslanders gives carers a break
The first major allocation of funding to cottage-style respite care will provide increased support to carers of frail older Queenslanders.
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13 January 2006
JB05/06
The first major allocation of funding to cottage-style respite care will provide increased support to carers of frail older Queenslanders, the Minister for Ageing, Julie Bishop announced today.
"The funding announced today is for a range of new "cottage" respite services that provide a safe home-like environment for frail older people, which gives their family and carers a break from the work of caring for that person," Ms Bishop said.
Funding of $11.2 million over four years has been approved to 18 providers in Queensland to enable them to provide cottage-style overnight respite care, as part of a national funding allocation of $59 million.
The Queensland projects, for example, include $1.4 million over four years for Multilink Community Services to provide respite care targeted to people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and with dementia, across the metropolitan area.
The service will operate from Multilink Club House, a four-bedroom house in a quiet residential street in Logan, and will give priority to high care clients.
"With this extra funding, Multilink Community Services will be able to assist carers who face special challenges because of cultural and language issues, and the difficulties created by advancing dementia," Ms Bishop said.
"The project has support from local ethnic organisations and other community organisations, and will focus on the cultural, social and emotional needs of each person in care.
"Together, the Queensland projects receiving this funding will provide more flexible and innovative overnight respite care across the state, including in some remote areas where no other respite care is available. Respite services help support thousands of people to remain at home rather than enter permanent residential aged care."
The extra funding for cottage respite care is part of the 2005 Budget and provides $207.6 million over four years for additional respite support for carers, bringing total funding for the National Respite for Carers program in 2005/06 to $135 million.
Media contact: (Ms Bishop) Murray Hansen 0417 886 155
(Multilink Community Services) Debbie Bragg 07 3808 4463
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