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22
Sep
2020
Healthy North Coast (HNC) has provided funding through its Primary Health Network (PHN) program for counselling and psychological support services to people in residential aged care facilities (RACFs).
The PHN program is an Australian Government initiative.
In the Mid North Coast, the service is being delivered by EACH, an organisation that provides an integrated range of health, disability, counselling and mental health services across Australia.
EACH One Matters is the name of the new service. It offers free, evidence-based individual and group counselling and psychological therapies tailored to the needs of people living in aged care. RACF residents previously had to pay for these services.
EACH is also working closely with RACF staff to provide additional mental health training and capacity-building opportunities.
“EACH One Matters has been particularly beneficial to residents in responding to the potential for increased distress because of social isolation caused by COVID-19,” said HNC Chief Executive, Julie Sturgess.
“Currently, aged care residents are not eligible for mental health services under the government’s Better Access mental health initiative, unlike older people living in the community. This service is a positive change for RACF residents.”
Federal Member for Cowper, Pat Conaghan, welcomed the EACH One Matters service being offered in RACFs in Coffs Harbour, Bellingen, Nambucca Heads, Kempsey and Port Macquarie.
“Our government is committed to supporting senior Australians in aged care and this program will provide a safe, accessible channel to counsellors who residents can talk to,” he said.
Research undertaken by Beyond Blue shows that 10 to 15 per cent of older people experience depression and about 10 per cent experience anxiety. The rate of depression among people living in RACFs is believed to be much higher, at around 52 per cent.
For some people, adapting to living in a RACF can include:
“EACH One Matters stands by its name,” said Team Leader, Mick Easton. “We believe that everyone is entitled to good health, and that includes good mental and emotional health.
“We provide support for residents who need someone to talk to about the things that might be causing them distress or concern. They might not necessarily have a mental health diagnosis.
“We have a dedicated team of mental health professionals who have diverse experience and are passionate about what they do.
“Anyone can make a referral for a friend or family member living in a residential aged care facility, who they think would benefit from our services. Referrals can also be made by GPs and RACFs, plus residents can self-refer.”
Ms Sturgess said the service had been established after a successful 2019 trial involving nine RACFs from Kempsey to Tweed Heads. The trial was also run in two Queensland locations in partnership with local PHNs. The combined evaluation report showed measurable benefit from the availability of mental health support within RACFs.
If you would like more information about EACH One Matters, or to make a referral, you can call 0400 596 499 or email: [email protected]
A similar service has been funded in Northern NSW and is contracted to Change Futures Ltd, a registered charity that provides quality mental health services to the community through individual and group programs delivered by psychologists.
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We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands across our region, and pay our respect to Elders past, present and on their journey. We recognise these lands were never ceded and acknowledge the continuation of culture and connection to the land, sky and sea. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples as the Land’s first peoples and honour the rich diversity of the oldest living cultures.
Strategic Priority Area: One team
North Coast is identified as the region most likely to be impacted by climate change in Australia and also forecasted greatest growth in those 65+.
Healthy North Coast takes a lead role in ensuring the older population and the sector that supports them are prepared for, can respond to and recover from disasters and other emergencies.
We have led eight regional disaster management capacity building workshops, bringing together SES, community organisations and the aged care sector.
We have also developed disaster preparedness tip sheets for both residential and community aged care providers.
Strategic Priority Area: One team
In May 2022, the NSW Parliament passed the Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2022. Effective from Tuesday, 28 November 2023, eligible people have the choice to access voluntary assisted dying.
Healthy North Coast has developed a webpage for both health professionals and consumers, with links to available information and resources.
Strategic Priority Area: No one is left behind
Healthy North Coast has worked with people living with dementia, their families and local service providers to develop an information booklet that will help them connect with local and national supports along their journey.
The booklet includes commonly asked questions for people to ask their GP and/or specialist.
The resource is available in digital and printed copies, with more than 5,000 distributed across the region. An e-version is available to clinicians via the Dementia and Cognitive Impairment HealthPathway.
Strategic Priority Area: One team
The Deteriorating Resident Response Tool (DRRT) has been developed to guide RN’s in Residential Aged Care homes (RACHs) to better understand, anticipate and make clinical decisions responding to the deteriorating health of residents.
The objective of the DRRT is to give RACH staff clear information to triage and provide appropriate care for a range of residents’ health conditions, and, in turn, prevent unnecessary presentations to ED.
The tool has been designed together with a specialist geriatrician, consulting with stakeholders such as Residential Aged Care Managers, NSW Ambulance, GPs, and experts from Mid and North Coast LHDs.
The pilot commences in March with four participating RACHs. Evaluation measures will include effectiveness in building RN confidence and reported reduction in unnecessary hospitalisations. Findings will inform a future planned, region-wide implementation.
Strategic Priority Area: No one is left behind
The Care Finders program is a free region-wide service to support vulnerable older people who have no-one else to help them, to learn about, apply for and set up support services.
Care finders can help people understand what aged care services are available, set up an assessment, and find and choose services. They also help people with access to other supports in the community, both accessing services for the first time and changing or finding new services and supports.
On the North Coast, Healthy North Coast has commissioned four organisations to provide this important service: EACH, Carexcell, Lifetime Connect and Footprints.
Strategic Priority Area: Improving Lives Now
Healthy North Coast commissions two service providers to deliver psychological therapies and supports for older people with, or at risk of developing, a mental illness and who are living in residential aged care homes (RACHs).
The aim of the program is to both provide direct support to residents and their families and carers, as well as upskill the RACH workforce to respond to the needs of residents presenting with mental health concerns.
Strategic Priority Area: Securing a Healthier Future
Delivered by Feros Care, the Healthy Me, Healthy Community program aims to build individual and community connections to reduce loneliness and improve wellbeing in Port Macquarie.
The program helps people to connect with community, activities, supports and services that address their broader social determinants of health, as an alternative or supplement to a clinical approach.
Strategic Priority Area: Improving Lives Now
Timely access to primary health care professionals, whether through face-to-face consultation or telehealth, is recognised as an issue for many Residential Aged Care Homes (RACHs), that in some cases can lead to potentially preventable hospitalisations. RACHs require adequate telehealth facilities to support access to virtual consultations for their residents.
Project goals
Strategic Priority Area: Improving Lives Now
Aims to provide people who have life limiting conditions the opportunity to exercise choice and receive high quality care at home, harnessing improved and better coordinated supports and services that meet their individual needs.
Program objectives:
These objectives will contribute to achieving the following intended overarching outcomes of:
Funding is open to all primary care providers within disaster affected communities across the Healthy North Coast footprint.
Workforce Locum support and R&R funding criteria
Wellbeing Flexible Funding Criteria & Eligibility
| *Team Size (Total staff and contractors) | Funding Available |
| Small (1-5) | $500-$1500 |
| Medium (6-20) | $1500-$4000 |
| Large (>20) | $4000-$5000 |
