FROM THE
MINISTER FOR AGED CARE
DATE:
Tuesday, March 29, 2005
REGIONAL VICTORIA TAKES LION SHARE OF $2M AGED CARE FUNDING BOOST
Aged care residents in regional Victoria will be the major beneficiaries of a $2 million boost for aged care lifting equipment, the Minister for Aged Care, Gavin Jennings, said today.
Mr Jennings said rural and regional Victorians would receive $1.6 million of a state wide $2 million funding increase.
Visiting Shepparton’s Grutzner House, he said the $2 million Victorian Government funding boost would make public aged care facilities safer and more comfortable for residents and their carers.
“Quality aged care equipment provides a better standard of care for Victoria’s aged care residents and helps avoid staff injuries,” Mr Jennings said.
“The equipment includes mobile hoists with digital weighing devices, electronic adjustable bathroom chairs and resident mobility equipment.”
“A total of 135 Victorian residential aged care facilities with high-care beds will share $2 million and of these, 80 per cent or 109 facilities are in rural and regional areas and will receive $1.6 million.
“The $2 million increase is on top of $3.9 million in Bracks Government funding last year to replace non-electronic residential aged care beds with electronic ones, to meet new Victorian benchmarks.
Mr Jennings said upgrading lifting equipment helps reduce associated WorkCover costs through providing safer workplaces for carers, leading to fewer and less severe manual handling injuries.
“The Bracks Government $2 million investment in aged care lifting equipment builds on our commitment to provide decent standards of care to Victorian Public Sector aged care residents.
“Committing $1.6 million of this funding to provincial Victoria confirms the State Government’s commitment to decent aged care services in rural and regional areas.”
Region
Total Services
Total $ by Region
Barwon South Western
20
$ 355,200.00
Grampians
31
$ 432,900.00
Loddon Mallee
24
$ 388,500.00
Hume
21
$ 266,400.00
Gippsland
13
$ 166,500.00
NorthWestern Metro
12
$ 166,500.00
Eastern Metro
6
$ 66,600.00
Southern Metro
8
$ 155,400.00
Total Services
135
$ 1,998,000.00
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