WELL FOR LIFE I mproving senior Victorians’ wellbeing Jane Herington Director Ageing and Aged Care Victorian Department of Heath Australia

Australia large island, small population focused on east coast Victoria population 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 Australia population ~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 Care t raditional 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 services 500 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 Life service 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 Life service 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 Life Person centred “I’d really like to be able to walk to the front gate again and collect my mail and newspaper every day.” Assessorswork with individuals to identify aspirations, strengths, goals, and services to suit. Result: flexible services adapted for individual needs

Well for Life Assessment 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 Life Workforce training Funding provided Courses available On the job training Mentoring Industry consultants Government support

Well for Life Workforce 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 Life what 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!