Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton welcomed an announcement of eight Short Term Restorative Care [STRC] places for the Broken Hill-based provider Annecto Inc by the Minister for Aged Care, Ken Wyatt AM.
Six places have been budgeted for the 2016-17 financial year and a further two places have received funding for the 2017-18 year, Mr Coulton said.
The places were part of a total allocation of 475 places in this and next financial year by the Federal Government.
Mr Coulton said the STRC programme increases the care options available to older people, through time-limited [56 days], goal-orientated, multi-disciplinary and coordinated package of services.
He said the STRC programme can be delivered in a home/community setting, a residential aged care setting or a combination of both.
“I’m delighted to see the residents of Broken Hill will be receiving this important support and I will continue working hard for the rest of my Electorate,” Mr Coulton said.
Minister Wyatt said the amount of places made available is in line with the government’s aged care planning ratios, which are 125 places per 1,000 people aged 70 years or older.
He said the STRC is a component of the 2016-17 Aged Care Approvals Round in the Parkes Electorate.
“This is a highly competitive process and each application is subject to rigorous assessment based on criteria prescribed in the Aged Care Act 1997, such as the applicant’s ability to deliver care, management experience and expertise,” Minister Wyatt said.