Topic: Older person health

The aged care system is not always simple or straightforward.

For older Australians, navigating and accessing aged care services through My Aged Care and other relevant community supports can be daunting.

Assistance is available through care finders who provide face-to-face assistance to vulnerable older people needing different help to that provided by the My Aged Care call service or website.

There are care finder services available in each different region across in South Western Sydney and covering a range of cultural needs.

The care finder tasks can include:

• Assist eligible older people with their My Aged Care applications, provide guidance on services to apply for and attend the My Aged Care assessment where appropriate
• Work through income/means testing and costs (with support from Services Australia as required)
• Help people connect with health services, mental health services, housing services, drug and alcohol services, community groups and transport as needed
• Complete high-level check-in on a periodic basis and follow up support once services have commenced
• Build a rapport with clients and providers

Referrals are centralised through the Triple I Hub.

GPs can use the referral form or install templates for MedicalDirector and Best Practice via the link on this webpage.

GPs across the South Western Sydney can refer to the care finder program using this one-page referral form available as a PDF or templates for Medical Director and Best Practice.  

The aged care system and My Aged Care can be difficult to understand and navigate especially if a person has: 

• communication and language barriers
• difficulty processing information due to cognitive decline
• reluctance to engage with a need for support
• reluctance to engage with government services

Some older Australians need extra support to navigate the aged care system and use My Aged Care but do not have family, friends, a carer or a representative they are comfortable receiving help from and who is willing and able to help them access aged care services and supports.  

Care finder provides eligible people with tailored, intensive face-to-face support.  

SWSPHN has commissioned six organisations to employ care finders and the Triple III Hub to provide a centralised intake service.

Triple III allocates referrals to the most appropriate care finder organisation which will then contact your patient.  

Find out more

Pre-assessment action plans are available for respiratory infections in aged care home residents and those in the community at higher risk of severe disease from COVID-19 and influenza.

The action plans aim to facilitate timely access to antiviral medicines for residents should they test positive to COVID-19 or test positive or be exposed to influenza.

Following consultation, the NSW Health anti-viral pre-assessment forms were recently re-designed as “action plans” and now capture additional information regarding prevention, testing and treatment of acute respiratory infections.

The re-designed forms can be found through the following links:

Pre-assessment action plan for respiratory infections in aged care facility residents

This pre-assessment should be completed by the resident’s regular doctor (supported by the facility’s registered nurse) at time of admission or health assessment and reviewed regularly. The pre-assessment supports prevention and testing of respiratory pathogens and access to antiviral medication for residents in aged care facilities.

Pre-assessment action plan for respiratory infections

This pre-assessment supports prevention and testing of respiratory pathogens and access to antiviral medication for adults who are at higher risk of severe disease from COVID-19 and influenza. The pre-assessment should be completed by the person’s regular doctor before the person tests positive for COVID-19 or influenza. It may also be used for people who are travelling interstate, internationally or on cruise vessels to support decision-making for antiviral medicines.