Home away from home for older Victorians gives carers a break
The first major allocation of funding to cottage-style respite care will provide increased support to carers of frail older Victorians.
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13 January 2006
JB08/06
The first major allocation of funding to cottage-style respite care will provide increased support to carers of frail older Victorians, 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 $13.6 million over four years has been approved to 12 providers in Victoria to enable them to provide cottage-style overnight respite care, as part of a national funding allocation of $59 million.
The Victorian projects include, for example, almost $1.27 million over four years for Baptist Community Care Southern Carer Support for a significant expansion in its overnight respite care service. It will cater for people from the South and East regions of Melbourne.
"With this extra funding, Southern Carer Support will be able to expand respite care to up to seven days and nights per week for frail older people, including those with dementia and challenging behaviours," Ms Bishop said.
"They will offer accommodation with ensuite facilities, assistance with daily living and dementia-specific programs to meet the cultural, social and emotional needs of each person in care."
"The Victorian projects will provide more flexible and innovative overnight respite care in areas where there is a high demand for these services, including some in remote areas."
Ms Bishop said the work done by carers enabled many thousands of older people to remain in their homes, rather than entering permanent residential care.
The extra funding for cottage respite is part of the 2005 Budget package 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
(Baptist Community Care) Amanda Bajada 0439 039 668
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