What is the care finder program?
The care finder program supports vulnerable older people, who have no one else who can support them, to learn about, apply for, and access aged care services and supports in their local community.
Who is the care finder program for?
The care finder program is not for everyone. It has been designed to specifically help vulnerable older people who have ‘fallen through the gaps’ and have no family or friends to help them connect with My Aged Care and other community supports. There is no cost to access the Care Finder Program. The intent of the Care Finder Program is to complement – not duplicate – My Aged Care by providing more localised and face-to-face support.
To receive care finder support, a person must:
- have no carer or support person who can help them, or
- not have a carer or support person they feel comfortable or trust to support them, and
- be eligible for government-funded aged care.
In addition, they should have one or more of the following reasons for needing intensive support:
- have difficulty communicating because of language or literacy problems
- find it difficult to understand information and make decisions
- be reluctant to engage with aged care or government
- be in an unsafe situation if they do not receive services.
Why was the care finder program created?
The Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care created the Care Finder Program in response to the Royal Commission findings into Aged Care Quality and Safety.
How is Summit Health involved?
Under the Country SA PHN (Primary Health Network) funded Care Finder Program, Summit Health has appointed a team of Aged Care Finder Navigators (Navigators) to deliver the program across the Adelaide Hills, Barossa (South), Fleurieu Peninsula and Kangaroo Island. The local approach will enable Navigators to ensure care finder services are tailored to support the specific needs of older people in our local community.
Navigators will work directly with people who are eligible under the Care Finder Program in helping them to access and navigate aged care services for the first time, change or find new services and connect with relevant local supports.
If you or an older person you know needs help to get some aged care and/or community support in place, please contact us and chat with a member of our Aged Care Navigator Team.
Alternatively, you can complete a Care Finder Service Referral form.
To contact our Aged Care Navigator team at Mount Barker, the Barossa (South), the Fleurieu Peninsula or Kangaroo Island:
Contact:
P: 08 7320 3150
E: carefinder@connectcare.org.au
Additional Links:
For details on organisations offering the care finder service near you, contact My Aged Care on:
1800 200 422 (Free Call) or visit Help from a Care Finder here:
Help from a care finder | My Aged Care