Public-sector residential aged-care services in Gippsland will receive $840,480 to improve facilities and quality of care for elderly residents.

The Minister for Housing, Disability and Ageing Martin Foley today announced health services across the state will share in close to $6 million of new grants to help public aged-care facilities deliver the best possible care, now and into the future.

More than $4 million of the state-wide funding boost will go to vital refurbishments so public sector aged care facilities can meet modern, contemporary standards and provide better and safer living conditions for residents.

To help provide the highest quality care, $970,000 will be delivered to buy specialised medical equipment such as electronic beds, pressure-relieving mattresses, electronic shower chairs, mobility aids, lifting equipment, and diagnostic and treatment equipment.

A $301,000 funding boost will see more than 250 nurses working in rural public aged care facilities receive training in the comprehensive health assessment of older people, while another $639,400 is earmarked to strengthen business operations ensuring services are sustainable into the future.

The Gippsland upgrades will include:

• Bairnsdale Regional Health Service – $334,300 to fund the Maddocks Gardens Refurbishment as well as training for aged care nurses and purchase new specialist equipment.
• Bass Coast Health – $24,300 to train aged care nurses and purchase new specialist equipment
• Central Gippsland Health Service – $324,300 to fund the Maffra Bedroom and Ensuite Upgrade as well as training for aged care nurses and purchase new specialist equipment
• Gippsland Southern Health Service – $24,300 to train aged care nurses and purchase new specialist equipment
• Koo Wee Rup Regional Health Service – $39,300 to train aged care nurses, purchase new specialist equipment and strengthen business operations.
• Latrobe Regional Hospital – $14,300 to train aged care nurses and purchase new specialist equipment
• Omeo District Health – $26,780 to train aged care nurses, purchase new specialist equipment and strengthen business operations.
• Orbost Regional Health – $14,300 to train aged care nurses and purchase new specialist equipment
• West Gippsland Healthcare Group – $24,300 to train aged care nurses and purchase new specialist equipment
• Yarram and District Health Services – $14,300 to train aged care nurses and purchase new specialist equipment

Victoria has 182 public residential aged care facilities across Victoria providing about 5,800 places, about 86 per cent of them in rural and regional towns.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Housing, Disability and Ageing Martin Foley

“These state-owned facilities play a vital role in delivering aged care for vulnerable Victorians. In small rural communities, public providers can be the sole local provider of aged care, and are also central to the local economy and local jobs.”

“The Andrews Labor Government is committed to supporting people to access local quality aged care homes and services in regional and rural Victoria – and are now investing in the future of public aged care facilities.”