Keywords
Citation
(2007), "Tasmania - Home care boost for Tasmania's aged and disabled", International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, Vol. 20 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijhcqa.2007.06220cab.008
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2007, Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Tasmania - Home care boost for Tasmania's aged and disabled
Keywords: Patient care services, Healthcare funding, Patient choice
The Minister for Ageing, Senator Santo Santoro, and the Tasmanian Minister for Health and Human Services, Lara Giddings, have announced an increase in home care services for the elderly and people with disabilities.
The additional Home and Community Care (HACC) services for Tasmania include personal care, domestic assistance and community transport services.
The ministers said Tasmania’s HACC program funding for 2006-2007 would increase to $41.9 million. The program supports people with disabilities, frail aged people, and their carers to remain in their own homes by providing basic maintenance and support services in the home.
Senator Santo Santoro said the expanded services had been made available through additional funding from both Governments of more than $3.4 million or 8.9 per cent over 2005-2006 funding for the HACC program.
“The core services provided under the HACC scheme, such as community nursing, home modification and maintenance programs, will continue to be provided,” Senator Santoro said.
“The extra funding will enable HACC to offer an expanded portfolio of services to more people than ever before.”
Ms Giddings said the scheme has a target population of more than 52,000 clients, covering all regions of the state.
“State-wide consultations were held to develop the 2006-2007 HACC priorities of personal care, domestic assistance, community transport, volunteering and special needs groups,” she said.
“Without the assistance of these services, many people would have to consider a premature move from their community into residential care facilities,” she said.
The Australian Government would contribute $928.4 million (around 60 per cent of program funding, which exceeds $1.5 billion) for HACC nationally in 2006-2007. This represents an increase in Australian Government funding of 8.2 per cent over that provided in 2005-2006.
For further information: www.health.gov.au/