Tuesday, 10 December 2024
The Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) has welcomed the release of an independent evaluation of the National Aged Care Advocacy Program (NACAP).
Through the NACAP, the Department of Health and Aged Care funds 235 advocates and support staff across OPAN’s national 9-member network to support older people to access the care and services they need.
The overwhelming majority (90%) of the older people surveyed in the Australian Healthcare Associates (AHA) evaluation felt they had received better aged care services as a result of that support. More than 80% reported an increased awareness of the services available to them, including advocacy, and their aged care rights.
The evaluators also found that the NACAP was successfully empowering older people to self-advocate – 74% of those surveyed felt more confident to discuss their needs.
“The network’s advocates provided more than 44,000 cases of information and advocacy support in the last financial year – a 20% increase on the previous year,” OPAN CEO Craig Gear said.
“Given the significant increases in the network’s case volume, I couldn’t be more thrilled by these results.
“To me, they reflect the strength of our consortium model, which enables members to take a targeted, localised approach to the challenges facing older people while being supported by a national framework.”
More than 700 stakeholders, including older people, aged care staff, advocates and government representatives, were consulted for the AHA evaluation, commissioned by the Department of Health and Aged Care to assess the NACAP’s efficiency and effectiveness.
The National Aged Care Advocacy Program Evaluation final report describes it as “a highly valued program providing much-needed support and delivering positive outcomes for older people, including those with diverse needs.” Evaluators noted that advocacy cases were becoming more complex but found that network members were successfully reaching vulnerable target groups.
Mr Gear warned that vulnerable older people faced additional challenges in staying safe and connected over the holiday period.
“Our Aged Care Advocacy Line (1800 700 600) will remain open at reduced hours throughout the Christmas break. It will be closed on public holidays and resume full operating services from 2 January 2024.”
MEDIA CONTACT
Vicky Roach – 0412 720 025 – vicky.roach@opan.org.au
When reporting about older people please refer to the media reporting guidelines and for more information or media enquiries visit our Media Centre.
IMPORTANT NOTICE TO MEDIA FOR STORIES RELATING TO OLDER PEOPLE
It is critical to provide older people with an avenue to get support when covering stories about aged care. We strongly encourage you to include the following message in your story to enable older people to seek support:
For information or support regarding aged care, please call the Older Persons Advocacy Network on 1800 700 600 or visit opan.org.au
