Media Release: GOULBURN VALLEY SHARES IN $2M AGED CARE LIFT

FROM THE MINISTER FOR AGED CARE

DATE: Tuesday, March 29, 2005

GOULBURN VALLEY SHARES IN $2M AGED CARE LIFT

Shepparton, Tatura and Rushworth aged care residents will share in 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 get $1.6 million of the state wide $2 million 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.”

Grutzner House is one of three public sector aged care facilities run by Goulburn Valley Health to share in funding with others including Tatura’s Parkvilla Aged Care Facility and Waranga Nursing Home, Rushworth.

“These three facilities will share $33,300 to provide improved care for frail older residents and a safer working environment for staff,” Mr Jennings said.

“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.

“Across the Hume region, 21 high-care facilities are getting a total of $266,400 in funds.

“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.”