Elder advocate opens Geelong office

Elder Rights Advocacy (ERA) is a statewide service and a member of the Older Person’s Advocacy Network (OPAN), and now has an office in Geelong dedicated to support people across the Barwon South Western region.

The service receives Commonwealth funding to provide information to the community and advocacy services to current and prospective recipients of Commonwealth funded aged care services.

The service promotes community awareness of people’s rights and responsibilities in residential and in-home care, as well as elder abuse education across Victoria.

This can include taking up issues directly with an aged care service, and challenging services to provide better care.

“The people of Geelong and surrounding areas have a right to expect high quality care from aged care services,” advocate Anthea Katsaros said.

“At Elder Rights Advocacy (ERA), our job is to help people get the high quality aged care services that they need and deserve.

“This includes residential aged care facilities (nursing homes) and home care services, including Home Care Packages.

“Whether it is an issue within an aged care facility, or with home care, or concerns about elder abuse, we are here to listen, to provide information and support people to advocate for solutions.”

The advocacy service is free, confidential and totally independent.

If you, or anybody you know has an aged care concern, contact Anthea through the national OPAN phone line 1800 700 600, directly on 0447 494 288 or by emailing [email protected].