Judith:
I enjoy my job as an aged care worker. I know how important it is. Over the years I’ve seen many people come here, get support from us. It really helps them and their families. Sometimes I see one of our older people who doesn’t come here struggling. I think hmm, we could help them. It might be good for them. But I don’t decide who gets support. Even Enid our coordinator doesn’t decide. Watch here and you’ll see how it works.
Andy:
Hello Enid. It’s Andy. I’m the new nurse at the clinic. I’ve got someone here who needs help from aged care. Can I send them down to talk to you? Her name’s Delia.
Enid:
Delia? She’ll be a new client. She’ll have to get assessed and approved before she can get aged care help.
Andy:
I was hoping you could get her on the meals straight away. I’m worried about her. It would be good if she could get her clothes and blankets washed as well.
Enid:
I can put her on the meals program while she’s waiting to get assessed but I can’t do Delia’s washing or anything else until she’s been assessed and approved. What else do you think she needs? I’ll help her put in a referral to My Aged Care.
§(Music Playing)§
Judith:
Delia and Margaret her daughter are here to talk to you.
Enid:
Okay. That’s the referral sent off to My Aged Care. That gets things started. But you’ll still need to talk to the My Aged Care mob Delia. They’re the ones who say if you can start on aged care and they decide what help you get.
Delia:
But I need help now. How long have I got to wait?
Enid:
You should hear from My Aged Care pretty soon. We have to use the My Aged Care system. It makes assessments stronger and fairer for everyone. But we can start you on the meals program straight away. We have to fill out these forms first though.
Delia:
What are they?
Enid:
In this one tell me what food you like or don’t like and any allergies or problems you have eating. That way we give you food that you like to eat and that is safe for you. We also have to fill out a payment form for your meals.
Delia:
The kind of food that I eat is what my daughter sometimes gets for me.
§(Music Playing)§
Enid:
Hi Tom. Are you out here to do assessments?
Tom:
Yeah. I’m going round to assess Delia. Can I borrow Judith to interpret for me?
Enid:
Yes. Take Tamika as well. She’s new. It would be good for her to understand what happens in an assessment.
Tom:
Hi Judith. I’m going to do Delia’s assessment for aged care. Enid said you can come and interpret for me. She also would like Tamika to come as well.
Judith:
Okay. We’ll just finish this basket of washing and then we’ll be ready.
Tamika:
I don’t know if I should go.
Judith:
What?
Tamika:
My nanna and Delia don’t get on.
Judith:
Why’s that?
Tamika:
Nanna always said Delia made eyes at my grandad when they were younger, trying to steal him away from her. She gets really angry when she sees Delia or her family. We don’t talk to them.
Judith:
Hmm. What if someone here didn’t like your nanna and didn’t help her?
Tamika:
That wouldn’t be right. She needs help or she’ll get sick.
Judith:
Well you’ve got to do the same for Delia. Here at aged care we have to treat everyone the same way. No room for personal arguments. It is the right of every client to be treated with dignity and respect.
Tamika:
I know. It’s just a different way of thinking here. But you’re right. I’ve got to treat all people here with respect.
Judith:
Yeah.
Delia and Margaret her daughter are here to talk to you.
Enid:
Delia your application for aged care help has been approved.
Delia:
Oh good.
Enid:
Now we need to complete some more paperwork.
Delia:
More?
Enid:
We need to talk about what your help will look like. Things like the times and days that work best for you and how you like things done. That will all go into this your care plan. I need to get your permission to share information with the clinic and to use your photo in our newsletter if we take photos on activities.
I need to tell you about your rights as a person getting aged care help and also the things you need to do. Then we need to sign this agreement that talks about fees and what to do if you need more help, how you can stop the help we give, how to make a complaint or give feedback, who else can speak up for you and how we keep your information private.
Delia:
Whoa. That a lot.
Enid:
Yes. But we can’t start giving you all the help you need until we do all this. One of the rights you have is to get information in a way that is easy for you to understand. So we have this handbook for you. It has a lot of information about aged care. You can take this away and you and your family can have a look at it together. I know there’s a lot to take in so we can make another time tomorrow to talk about what your help will look like.
Delia:
Yeah. Good. Come here tomorrow?
Enid:
Yes.
Care workers often become advocates of aged care services to their wider communities. As family members, friends, neighbours and others become aware of the person’s role in the industry, care staff may be asked questions about accessing aged care help.
Use this facilitator guide to support discussion about the different ways that older people may access aged care services.
Stories, people and places are based on individuals from different communities in East Arnhem Land. For cultural appropriateness, names have been changed.