Footprints Community is proud to commence its care finder service program funded through the Australian Government’s Primary Health Network. The care finder service provides practical support for vulnerable older Australians to access aged care and community services. Footprints care finders provide intensive, personalised and locally specialised support as needed throughout much of Queensland and Northern NSW.
Footprints Community has a care finder team to support people who are eligible for government-funded aged care but have no one else to support them to access these services.
Care finders support people who:
- – may have difficulty communicating because of language or literacy challenges
- – find it difficult to understand information and make decisions
- – may be reluctant to engage with aged care or government
- – may be left in an unsafe situation if they do not receive services.
The need for a face-to-face service to support isolated older Australians access aged care services was raised by stakeholders at the Legislation Review of Aged Care 2017 resulting in aged care system navigator trials. This need was further highlighted by the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety which recommended a workforce of care finders to provide face to face support to help people navigate and access aged care.
Read more about the care finder program on the Australian Department of Health and Aged Care website.
“It’s a great privilege to be part of a new service that will make such a difference to so many people. We know there is a big need in the community and that many elderly Australians get lost in the system and really need help to connect with services and supports just to maintain a reasonable quality of life. We are excited by the opportunity to help fill that gap.” Cathy Pilecki, Senior Manager, care finder program.
Erin Larsen, supports older people in Central Queensland, Wide Bay and Sunshine Coast region in her care finder role and said, “Being a care finder means walking with someone at their most vulnerable, and observing the transformation in a person’s life as they connect to community and supports is the one of the most rewarding parts of my role”.
“We have known for many years the difficulty vulnerable older people face when needing to access aged care services. This is an invaluable service that we are proud to offer, and I am grateful that Footprints can further provide support to our much-valued older Australians.
I thank all of those that have and will in the future allow us to walk alongside them to maintain an overall quality of life. I am also pleased to be working with Better Together in the Tablelands to deliver care finder services in their community,” Jade Cronan-Thompson, Director Service Delivery.
To find a care finder near you or refer someone you know to Footprints care finder, contact us.
Call 1800 FOOTPRINTS (1800 366 877)
Email: carefinder@footprintscommunity.org.au
