Case management is provided for frail older people who have complex care needs, to ensure they function at an optimum level of independence and according to their capacities and choices, and to enable them to continue living in the community for as long as possible and to prevent inappropriate and unnecessary admission to residential care. Priority access to the program is given to eligible people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
The service is jointly managed by St John of Kronstadt Russian Welfare Society and the Migrant Resource Centre.
Russian Welfare Society, in partnership with the South Eastern Region Migrant Resource Centre, have managed 75 Community Aged Care Packages under the program name of “Partners in Care” since May 2001. This program is funded by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing. It is aimed at supporting people to stay in the community for as long as possible and prevent inappropriate and unnecessary admission to long-term residential care. “Partners in Care” covers the local council areas of Casey, Glen Eira, Greater Dandenong, Kingston and Port Phillip.
A key feature of CACP Program is case management. It is to ensure care recipients function at their highest level of independence in consistency with their capacity and also their preference of care. The case managers have the role to provide information, referral and advocacy supports as individual situations required. These supports have been proved to be particular important and beneficial for elderly people and their families who are from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
Partners in Care provided case management to 101 clients who had complex care needs this year. All the clients had been assessed being eligible for low care support but preferred to remain living in the community as opposed to entering residential care. They received individually tailored packages of care services that are planned and coordinated that might include personal care, home help, respite care and assistance to participate in social and recreational activities.
“Partners in Care” is committed to the provision of culturally and linguistically appropriate community aged care. Priority access to the program has been given to people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds. This year, we were proud to see that out of the 101 care recipients, 88 (87.1%) were from a CALD background, 68 (67.3%) spoke a language other than English at home. They were born in 34 different countries and speak 22 different languages or dialects. .
After seven years of solid operation, “Partners in Care” has established itself to be a leading CACP provider in meeting the needs of the rapidly ageing CALD communities. We are also highly regarded in the quality of our service and that we are responsive and flexible in meeting the needs of clients in a culturally sensitive manner.
As I have been appointed to another position at the Migrant Resource Centre, this will be my final report for the program and I would like to thank Fr Michael Protopopov and the Board and staff of RWS for their unfailing support for so many years. I wish “Partners in Care” every success in the future.
