Govt increases aged care services in regional and remote areas

The government is expanding its aged care services in regional and remote areas, allowing older Australians to stay connected to their communities and families.

The Albanese Government is ramping up its efforts to provide better care for older Australians living in regional and remote areas. A new funding initiative has been launched to provide 100 additional flexible aged care services, allowing older people to stay connected to their communities and close to their families.

These new places will be within Multi-Purpose Services (MPS), which provide both health and aged care services in the same location. MPSs are often the only aged care provider in town, making it possible for older people to stay connected to their communities.

Approved aged care providers in any state or territory can apply for up to 100 new flexible aged care places, either to add extra places to their existing MPS or to set up a new MPS in a rural or remote community.

Providers will be able to apply either to add extra places to their existing MPS or to set up a new MPS in a rural or remote community. There are currently 3739 flexible aged care places with 28 MPS providers across 180 sites throughout Australia.

The expansion means more than 3800 older people living in remote locations can access aged care through MPS providers.

“Older people should be able to access quality aged care services no matter where they live in Australia,” Minister for Aged Care Anika Wells said. “Multi-Purpose Services play a valuable part in our aged care system and mean rural residents don’t have to move away from their family and friends to access aged care.”

“Adding 100 more MPS places gives older people in rural regions the peace of mind that they’ll be able to be cared for in their own community.”

MPSs are a joint initiative between the Australian Government and states and territories.

Ritchelle Drilon

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Ritchelle is a Content Producer for Healthcare Channel, Australia’s premier resource of information for healthcare.

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