WELL FOR LIFEImproving senior Victorians’ wellbeing

Jane Herington

Director Ageing and Aged Care

Victorian Department of Heath

Australia

Australialarge island, small population focused on east coast

Victoriapopulation 5.6 million

Victorians:

5.6 million people

1.0 million aged 60+

Come from 230 countries

Speak 200+ languages

0.5 million 1-person households

Australiapopulation ~22.8million

Health Roles & Responsibilities 3 levels of Government

Commonwealth

National health policy • public health• research

Funds to state, local governments & private sector

• health services

• hospitals

• primary health services

Medicare – provides subsidies

• doctors

• public hospitals

(21 million people registered)

Subsidies

• primary care

• pharmaceuticals

• aged care residential services

• quarantine

State

Health policy

Delivery of health services

Public hospital services

Community and public health

• Dental

• Child & maternal health

• Disease control

HACC funding

Local

Environmental health

Health inspections

Home & Community Care

Public health

Home & Community Caretraditional approach

Meals

House cleaning

Home and Community Care (HACC) Victoria

Services•assessment •domestic assistance •personal care •delivered meals •allied health •home nursing •respite and social support

290,000 people getting services500 HACC service providers

Drivers for change

• increasing demand

• longevity

• changing needs

• expecting choices

• expecting improved quality

• benefits of social & physical activity

• limited resources

Well for Lifeservice system change

Policy

• Person centred

• Restorative

• Time limited

• Social inclusion

Implemented through:

• Home based assessment

• Goal oriented plans

• Workforce training & support

• Partnerships & referrals

“If you get stuck in your medical model paradigm, which I think you can when you’re an assessor with the forms we fill in, you can miss what an individual wants.”

Well for Lifeservice system change

“I’d like to cook a meal for myself, and enjoy it!”

Need meals support?

Options include:

•Delivered meals

•Support with shopping

•Support with cooking

•Cooking classes

•Shared meals

Well for LifePerson centred

“I’d really like to be able to walk to the front gate

again and collect my mail and newspaper

every day.”

Assessors work with individuals to identify aspirations, strengths, goals, and services to suit.

Result: flexible services adapted for individual needs

Well for LifeAssessment

Assessor “I met Mary to discuss what

some of her goals and ambitions

are”.

“She mentioned her love of the English language. Maybe there’s more she could do to join in with

community life”.

“You know I like playing Scrabble and I don’t know

anyone to play with. If I could be part of a group that

played Scrabble and also that I can share all this kind of stuff with - that would be

good”.

Mary – exploring new goals and ambitions

Well for LifeWorkforce training

• Funding provided

• Courses available

• On the job training

• Mentoring

• Industry consultants

• Government support

Well for LifeWorkforce training

Benefits

• Greater professionalism

• Broader career paths

• Improved recognition “With these changes, I get many more rewards, and far greater satisfaction in my work. And it’s much more respectful of older people and focuses on what they can do, not what they can’t do.”

Well for Lifewhat have we learnt?

• Find new ways to support people

• Manage change

• Senior management commitment

• Transfer approach into core business

• Identify motivating factors

• Support staff to solve problems

• Continue building partnerships

Next steps

• Monitor & evaluate progress

• Continue strategic workforce development

• Continue partnership development

• Re-define program policy and guidelines

• Reassess service activities and pricing

• Move into electronic environment

Recognise this is a long term project!

Well for Life!