Aged Care Navigation
About Aged Care Navigation
What is the aged care navigator program
The QPP aged care navigator program provides support to connect and engage vulnerable older people who have significant difficulty navigating My Aged Care and are at risk of “falling between the cracks.”
Aged care navigators from part of a national network of care finder services for older people, with our program servicing much of greater Brisbane.
Our aged care navigator program assists those who are eligible for government-funded aged care services and require intensive support to interact with My Aged Care, access aged care services and connect with other community supports. This includes people who already receive aged care services or other relevant supports.
To be eligible for aged care services, people must:
- Need help with one or more everyday tasks
- Be aged: 65 years or older (50 years or older for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people)
- or
- 50 years or older (45 years or older for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people) and on low income and homeless, or at risk of being homeless.
How can the program help?
A QPP aged care navigator can help people understand what aged care services are available and access other supports in the community.
They will provide this support by meeting with the person – this can be at their home or another place they choose – and asking questions to understand their situation.
Aged care navigators can help with accessing services for the first time as well as changing or finding new services and supports by:
- talking to My Aged Care and arranging an assessment
- attending and providing support during the assessment finding and shortlisting aged care providers in the area
- completing forms and helping to understand aged care service agreements
- checking in once services have commenced to ensure everything is running smoothly
- connecting to supports in the community such as health, mental health, housing, drug and alcohol services, and community groups.
Who can the program help?
The QPP aged care navigators program is not for everyone. It focuses on older people who face significant barriers navigating the aged care system due to:
- Communication barriers, including limited literacy skills
- Difficulty processing information to make decisions
- Reluctance to engage with aged care services for any reason
- They are uncomfortable engaging with aged care, institutions or the government due to past discrimination and/or trauma
- They are vulnerable or isolated with need for support
Aged care navigators support people who don’t have family, friends, a carer or a representative they are comfortable receiving help from and who is willing and able to help them access aged care services and supports.
How do I refer?
If you know someone, including yourself, who you think is eligible for aged care services and has one or more reasons for requiring intensive support, please contact the team at Queensland Positive People through the options below for more information and we can put you in touch with the most appropriate care finder program. Remember, the person must give consent for you to provide any information about them.
Is the QPP aged care program right for everyone?
QPP aged care navigator program services will complement and should not duplicate the My Aged Care channels available to people who are able to proactively navigate the system for themselves. If a person does not require intensive support, they can call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 or visit myagedcare.gov.au to access aged care services.
Who is involved?
The QPP aged care navigator program is funded by Brisbane North PHN & Brisbane South PHN through the Australian Government’s PHN Program and delivered in partnership with Communify and Micah Projects.
Resources
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Our trained team is here to help you should you have any questions or need support. You can call for free from a Queensland land-line on 1800 636 241 or call (07) 3013 5555 (national). You can also email us or use the contact form or the chat function in the corner of our website.
