COTA’s help for accessing aged care continues

4 Jan 2023

COTA NT has announced its intention to continue helping seniors, their family and carers to access aged care specifically. Under its Aged Care Navigators (ACN) program, COTA NT will continue to provide information and accessibility support for aged care in the Territory (home, residential and respite).

 In December 2022, as previously announced, COTA NT was unsuccessful in its bid to win a new program tender, Care Finder through the Northern Territory Primary Health Network (NT-PHN). (The Commonwealth-funded Care Finder program has now superseded the Aged Care Navigator program and will be accessible to all Territorians requiring care.)

 The ACN program aims to:

• Ensure the aged care needs of older people from all backgrounds are being met.
• That people have access to appropriate and relevant information before making decisions about aged care including but not limited to:
  • Up-to-date and relevant information about aged care options and the aged care system (including standards)
  • Help to access aged care support
  • Rights and choices regarding aged care
  • Changing aged care service providers, making formal complaints about aged care.

 “COTA NT has made the decision to continue its ACN program because of its unique and trusted position in the Territory’s older demographic, “said Sue Shearer, Chief Executive Officer of COTA NT. “We are grateful to our program officers, Janet Brown and Debbie Pepper for remaining with COTA to deliver ACN. Their experience, care for and relationships with seniors, their families and carers has been much praised and we are delighted to retain their services for 2023, albeit for reduced hours.

“While COTA NT aims to assist all seniors, preference will be given to COTA NT Members because of the reduction in ‘womanpower’ and to those seniors with complex care needs.”

ACN will be delivered in Darwin by Janet Brown (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 9am to 2pm) and in Alice Springs by Debbie Pepper (Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9am to 2pm).

Media contact: Sue Shearer, CEO COTA NT 08 8941 1004

www.cotant.org.au/aged-care-navigators/ – resources and links about ACN and aged care.