Ageing and Disability Forum

Thursday 17th June 20101pm – 4pm

17 June 2010 2

Forum Aims

• To inform participants about the issues/challenges facing people with disabilities who are ageing

• To look at what services are doing (PLANNING) to meet the changing needs of clients

17 June 2010 3

Agenda• Josie Prioletti; Facilitator

Welcome, Forum Aims and overview of latest research “ageing in place” NDS 2009

• Leah Hobson; Policy Officer AFDO (Australian Federation of Disability Organisations)Issues and challenges facing people with disabilities and services in the future

• Frances Mc Cartain; Acting Director, Community & Individual Support DHSDHS plans to meet the changing needs of people with disabilities who are ageing

BREAK tea, coffee and biscuits provided

• Ross Coverdale; CEO Araluen CentreThe development of an ageing Action plan – our journey, why and how it was developed and what we hope to achieve

• Janine Edwards; Nillumbik Community Health CentreThe necessity for long term planning, individual case studies

17 June 2010 4

Interface Barriers

Impediments to “ageing in place” for Victorians with a disability

November 2008, National Disability Services, VictoriaFunded by Helen Macpherson Smith Trust

17 June 2010 5

About the Report• Documents the research and findings from Stakeholders

Forum and Consultations (with Target Group)

• Stakeholders include- Disability Services- Home and Community Care (HAC)- Aged Care Services and Carers Program

• Target GroupPeople eligible for support / services under the Victorian Disability Act 2006, including people living in the community as well as those living in all kinds of supported accommodation

17 June 2010 6

About the Report

• Summarises the Key Findings

• Indentifies Key Strategic Priorities

• Develops an Action Plan

17 June 2010 7

Stakeholder Forum

NDS issued a broad invitation to the Aged Care & Disability Services seekers. Over 35 services attended the Forum.

Consultations

A target list of key individuals from a range of different organisations and backgrounds were identified and included in the consultation process.

They were interviewed and asked a series of questions including;• Perceived barriers to “Ageing in Place”• Potential strategic actions to address barriers

17 June 2010 8

Summary of Findings• Cultural, attitudinal and philosophical differences between

the Aged Care and Disability Services sectors, including the use of different definitions of ageing and different terminologies to describe their practice (e.g., “care” as compared to “support”)

• Rigidity and inflexibility within eligibility criteria in both Aged Care and Disability Support Services

• Lack of a comprehensive cross-program model to support people with disabilities of all ages throughout their lifetime

17 June 2010 9

Summary of FindingsContinued…

• Insufficient staffing resources and needs for a new targeted training and development programs for staff in both the Aged Care and Disability Service Sectors

• A need for consistent assessment tools and protocols across the Aged Care and Disability Support sectors

• Financial deficiencies in the service system and within families supporting people living with disabilities

17 June 2010 10

Barriers were categorised into 6 key areas

Policy• Lack of a workable interface between State and Federal

Governments and Aged Care and Disability Service programs

• No clear process for Disability Support Services to access funding increases when support needs on individuals increase especially in CRUs

• There is an unnecessary emphasis and fear amongst policy makers and Government Departments in relation to “double dipping”

17 June 2010 11

Barriers were categorised into 6 key areas

Program• Approach of some ACAS whereby they adopt ‘blanket rules’

rejecting assessment of people aged <65 years• Inconsistencies in the interpretation of eligibility for

Community Palliative Care Services• Difficulties experienced by people with a disability who are

ageing when they wish to retire from their day program because CRUs are not generally staffed during the day

• There is a barrier between supported employment and appropriate recreational and social activities, with no pathway to retirement

• Absence of ready access to nursing services

17 June 2010 12

Barriers were categorised into 6 key areas

Practice

• Unsympathetic treatment of people with a disability in hospitals, at times resulting in episodes of challenging behaviours that are stressful for hospital staff, families and Disability Support personnel

• Poor management of health care episodes resulting in inappropriate and early admissions to Residential Aged Care due to a lack of transition care availability linked to CRUs

17 June 2010 13

Barriers were categorised into 6 key areas

Personnel• Lack of confidence amongst Disability Service providers in

supporting ageing clients and family carers

• Lack of medical knowledge of CRU staff leading to a fear of making a mistake in the provision of support to people with a disability who are ageing and experiencing age-related health issues

• Lack of confidence amongst Aged Care Services personnel in assessing and working with people with a disability who are ageing

17 June 2010 14

Barriers were categorised into 6 key areas

Personal• Inadequate and inconsistent access to carer supports,

particularly respite care

• Inadequate attention to transition planning for older carers to support their own ageing and the person for whom they care

• A lack of clear and understandable information for families regarding the complex array of services, programs and eligibility rules

17 June 2010 15

Barriers were categorised into 6 key areas

Place• Greater barriers to ‘ageing in place’ in metropolitan areas

when compared to rural areas and regional centres due to a greater degree of flexibility shown by ACAS and other service providers in country areas

• A lack of transport options in rural and remote areas making it difficult to access appropriate community and home-based supports

17 June 2010 16

Suggestions to Address Priority Barriers

• Develop and implement targeted training programs for health and aged care personnel to improve their understanding of Disability Services and the needs of people with disabilities as they age;

• Develop and implement targeted training programs for disability support workers to improve their understanding of Aged Care Services (residential and community) and the needs of people as they age (e.g. retirement, dementia, health conditions)

• Foster and evaluate the development of shared housing initiatives and/or the co-location of supported accommodation for disabled people with Residential Aged Care facilities so that ageing carers and people with disabilities can stay together or live close by

17 June 2010 17

Suggestions to Address Priority Barriers

• Implement and evaluate age-related streaming within Disability Services at agency level – similar to initiatives at Araluen (possibly including the establishment of a ‘seniors unit’ within their organisational structure)

• Foster and evaluate partnership arrangements between local Aged Care providers (including ACAS) and Disability Support agencies

• Confirm the extent to which the ACAS/Disability Services Assessment Protocol developed by DHS is currently in use, and encourage its implementation more widely

17 June 2010 18

What Happens Now?

• Suggestions; Not Immediate

• What we can do now; What planning processes can we undertake now to assist us with meeting the changing need?