Grant for seniors home care project

HOME healthcare for elderly people in western Victoria has been boosted by a nine-million-dollar investment from the Federal Government Medical Research Future Fund.

The grant has been awarded to the DELIVER project, rolled out by the Western Alliance Academic Health Science Centre in partnership with rural and regional health services and providers including Ballarat Health Services, universities, and consumers.

This initiative aims to improve and grow the scope of healthcare provision in patients’ homes, with early intervention and more easily accessible assistance.

Ballarat Health Services executive director primary and community care Craig Wilding said DELIVER is expected to improve the Grampians region’s health outcomes, and decrease hospitalisation

“Care at home benefits us all, with patients feeling more comfortable in their own environment, families not having to travel to hospital to visit, and more hospital beds available for higher-acuity patients,” he said.

“This project is a natural extension of our Grampians and BHS at Home programs, which provides our patients with a highly qualified health care team and is a valuable alternative to traditional hospital admissions.

“We’re continually reminding our community of the importance of preventative health measures and having issues or concerns looked at to avoid becoming seriously ill or needing to visit the emergency department, and this project will explore additional ways that we can help provide care and remotely monitor patients in their own homes.”

Western Alliance Research Translation Committee is co-funded by Ballarat Health Services and Deakin University.

Its chair Associate Professor Anna Wong Shee said research led by rural health services is exciting.

“DELIVER will enable Western Victoria to grow our own clinician researchers who can engage with rural communities to address local health issues,” she said.

Also involved in the initiative are the Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association, Beaufort and Skipton Health Service, Central Highlands Rural Health, Federation University Australia, St John of God Health Care, Victorian Department of Health, Western District Health Service, and many more organisations.