The Federal Assistant Minister for Social Services Mitch Fifield and Victorian Minister for Ageing David Davis recently announced that Home and Community Care services supporting seniors, younger people with disability and their carers will receive a $33.9 million funding boost across Victoria.
Senator Fifield said the extra Home and Community Care (HACC) funding would expand services across the state.
“The Home and Community Care program provides critical basic maintenance, support and care services where most people prefer to receive them – in their own homes and communities,” Senator Fifield said. “This support includes personal care, domestic assistance, meals, nursing care, social support, as well as respite services for carers – without which many people wouldn’t be able to remain living independently.”
Mr Davis explained that the Australian Government contributed $20.4 million and the Victorian Government $13.6 million, significantly boosting care for people needing support.
“This includes an extra: 29,000 hours of in home services such as domestic assistance, personal care and property maintenance; 44,000 more hours of care planning to ensure clients receive the right care, at the right time; and 50,000 hours of nursing and allied health care such as occupational therapy, physiotherapy and podiatry.” Mr Davis commented “Older Victorians will be able to keep active and involved in their local communities with an additional 95,000 hours for planned activity groups. “With a growing and ageing population, we are also increasing funding for meals-on-wheels services by 49 per cent with an additional $5.9 million” Davis added.