Bungree to expand care finder service offering, locations

Bungree Aboriginal Association is expanding its service offering and locations with the commencement of a new care finder service for residents in the Central Coast, Lake Macquarie, Cessnock and Maitland local government areas, starting February 2023.

Available to both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal clients, the care finder service is designed to support aging and older people in accessing My Aged Care services and other relevant supports in the community.

Bungree Aboriginal Association CEO Suzanne Naden said, “Care finder services are designed specifically to assist older vulnerable people who need intensive support.

“This could be an older person who has no trusted carer or support person, someone who has difficulty communicating, finds it difficult to understand information, is reluctant to engage with aged care or government or who will be in an unsafe situation if they do not receive services.”

Bungree’s care finder services will be delivered in a collaborative and culturally responsive manner. Clients will be allocated a dedicated care finder staff member who will conduct regular in-home visits or in-person meetings to understand the client’s situation and assist them to connect with the relevant aged care services and community supports.

Care finder staff will assist clients with items such as talking to My Aged Care on their behalf, arranging assessments and appointments, attending and providing support at appointments, finding aged care providers and services in the client’s area, completing forms and providing assistance with understanding service agreements.

The care finder staff will also help clients connect with other relevant supports in the community including health services, mental health services, social services, housing and homelessness services, drug and alcohol services and community groups.

“Accessing aged care and health services can be quite daunting due to the volume of information and administration work required.

“It can be even more daunting for older people who are isolated or those who have difficulty communicating or comprehending information and often these are the individuals who need the support services the most,” Naden said.

Image credit: iStockphoto.com/Peter Melkie