Navigating aged care system made easier with BCH service expansion

BELLARINE Community Health (BCH) last week announced an expansion to its support services for people aged over 65, giving community members in Clifton Springs and Drysdale the option to get access to supports closer to home.

The service, now to be called the BCH Ageing Well Hub and to be offered at the organisation’s Drysdale site, aims to help older community members connect with My Aged Care, a free federal government-funded service supporting older people and their carers to navigate the aged care system.

The expansion follows the success of BCH’s first volunteer-run hub in Portarlington, established last year, with demand from community members in Drysdale and Clifton Springs motivating the service’s expansion.

The free service will now operate on Tuesday and Thursday mornings between 10am and 12 noon, in both Drysdale and Portarlington.

BCH home care packages manager Laura Fitzpatrick said the organisation was looking forward to welcoming more locals and visitors to the BCH Ageing Well Hub, supporting them to age well and helping them reap the benefits of staying connected with the community.

“At BCH we have the privilege of assisting our community and their families every day to access information on ageing well,” she said.

“Our volunteers and I enjoy supporting people to view ageing positively as well as providing relevant resources for people to understand and explore.”

Ms Fitzpatrick said many community members want to maintain their independence as they age and stay at home as long as possible but knowing what to do and how to access the supports and services available can be difficult.

This, she said, is something the BCH Ageing Well Hub can assist with.

“In terms of aged care information and services, there is so much out there.

“Some of it is irrelevant and outdated, and funding or programs are no longer in existence, but on the flip side, there is so much information that can assist and guide our local community to age well and remain safe in their homes and communities.”

For more information, or to make an appointment for either the Drysdale or Portarlington site, phone 1800 007 224.