St Andrew’s aims to extend home care

ST ANDREW'S aged care facility in Ballina is applying to the Federal Government for funding to extend its home care services.

Director of community care, Helen Doust, said that 130 new home care packages have been listed for the Far North Coast region of NSW.

"We are excited the new directions aged care is taking and we are ready to provide services which will meet the needs of older people, enabling them to live longer at home with their family," she said.

"As their needs change, they can still be looked after by St Andrew's, without any fear of having to change carers or go outside the district for care."

She said changes to government aged care policies meant the focus was now on Consumer Directed Care, which St Andrew's practises.

"The consumer will get to decide what care they need, how much of it, when they need it and how it will be provided in consultation with their family and carers, the local aged care assessment team, their GP and with us helping them," she said.