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Aged Care

High quality health care for older South Australians

Better access to healthcare for South Australia’s priority population

Older people in regional areas

An estimated 110,000 adults, or 22% of the population aged 65 years and over reside in country South Australia. High proportion of older people are generally found in the outer regional Local Government Areas of the Country SA PHN region such as in the Fleurieu and Yorke Peninsulas.

An ageing population

The aging population is predicted to rise to 27% over the next decade, The average annual growth of population for over 65s is consistent across all our regions, however some of our areas are going to be impacted differently by their overall population growth or decline over the next decade.

Preparation for population change

CSAPHN is instrumental in improving access to high quality primary healthcare for older South Australians. As a priority population, the needs of older people are explored through our community advisory committees and clinical councils along with service providers, Local Health Networks and general practice.

Ageing Well

As a part of the Australian Government’s Aged Care Reform Package, Country SA PHN is working with the health sectors and practitioners to improve access to primary care and other health services to support avoidable hospital admissions for Senior Australians, and delaying people’s entry into Residential Aged Care Facilities.

To do this we have established a dedicated Integrated Aged Care Team who will be working with consumers, communities, families, primary care providers, Residential Aged Care Facilities, Government and non-government organisations on a range of healthy ageing activities.

Country SA PHN is instrumental in improving access to high quality primary healthcare for older South Australians. As a priority population, the needs of older people are explored through our community advisory committees and clinical councils along with service providers, Local Health Networks and general practice.



These healthy ageing activities include:

Care Finder program

Navigating the aged care system can be difficult for all of us and even more so for older country South Australians and their families.

Therefore, we are establishing a network of ‘care finders’ to help navigate the system and ensure that older Australians can access the help they need to age well in place or access aged care support and timely care.

What is Care Finder

 

Increasing the availability and use of telehealth for RACF residents through Telehealth Technology Grants

We are providing assistance to Residential Aged Care Facilities across country SA to have integrated models using virtual consultation facilities that support residents to have greater access to telehealth from primary health care providers in their ‘home’ during and after hours. Allowing people in their place of residence to access care when they need it, to prevent avoidable hospitalisations and declining health and wellbeing.

Providing guidance and assistance to RACFs to have appropriate after-hours plans in place for residents

Care in Residential Aged Care Facilities is provided 24 hours a day 7 days a week. To ensure our most vulnerable people in aged care can access services when they need it most, we are working with facilities, residents, families, and health professionals to ensure plans are in place and available to respond to care needs outside of normal business hours.   

Early intervention strategies and initiatives to support healthy ageing

Ageing well and staying at home or in your chosen place of residence for as long as possible is a part of healthy ageing. Getting the right information and help early can often mean changes in older people’s conditions and can be managed without significant impacts on health ageing enabling people to live longer, doing the things they enjoy.

Integrated Aged Care Team

Country SA PHN



Commissioned programs

CSAPHN activities to support ageing

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Nightingale Nurse Program

A new program by Dementia Australia, which is an outreach specialist nurse service delivering dementia specific palliative care support throughout Country SA. Nightingale Program

Nightingale Program Brochure

Aged Care Tele-Support Service

Support country Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACF) with the costs associated with establishing suitable telehealth solutions by offering Telehealth Support Grants. 

 

 

Reboot Your Life - Living Well with Arthritis

An on-line exercise and wellbeing program for older people living with musculoskeletal conditions across country SA. The program will focus on the need for early intervention and target those people at risk of deterioration to avoid unnecessary hospitalisation.

 

Better for Life

Southern Cross Care SA/NT delivering online group exercise sessions for 65yrs+ population in the Borassa, Hills, Fleurieu & Kangaroo Island.

Psychological Therapies in Residential Aged Care

Psychological therapies in Residential Aged Care Facilities service is provided by Mind Australia, Country and Outback Health, FocusOne Health, Sonder and Summit Health. The program is an in-reach services to enable residents of Residential Aged Care Facilities with mental illness to access mental health services similar to those available in the community through the Better Access to psychologists, Psychiatrists and General Practice through the MBS Initiative (Better Access).