Support and connection for vulnerable older people
We know that aged care services can be difficult to navigate and understand, particularly for older people who are vulnerable and at risk of falling through the cracks.
The Communify Navigators program is a new initiative designed to provide additional support to connect and engage vulnerable older people so that they can access My Aged Care and other essential services.
The program is part of a national network of care finder services, with Communify Navigators servicing the Brisbane Inner City, Brisbane North and Brisbane West regions.
Communify Navigators assist those who are eligible for government-funded aged care services and require intensive support to interact with My Aged Care, access aged care services and connect with other community supports. This includes people who already receive aged care services or other relevant supports.
To be eligible for aged care services, people must:
- Need help with one or more everyday tasks
- Be aged:
- 65 years or older (50 years or older for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people) or
- 50 years or older (45 years or older for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people) and on low income and homeless, or at risk of being homeless.
Communify Navigators is not for everyone. It focuses on older people who face significant barriers navigating the aged care system due to:
- communication barriers, including limited literacy skills
- difficulty processing information to make decisions
- reluctance to engage with aged care services for any reason
- they are uncomfortable engaging with aged care, institutions or the government due to past discrimination and/or trauma
- they are vulnerable or isolated with need for support
Communify Navigators supports people who don’t have family, friends, a carer or a representative they are comfortable receiving help from and who is willing and able to help them access aged care services and supports.
Communify Navigators can help people understand what aged care services are available and access other supports in the community.
They will provide this support by meeting with the person – this can be at their home or another place they choose – and asking questions to understand their situation.
Communify Navigators can help with accessing services for the first time as well as changing or finding new services and supports by:
- talking to My Aged Care and arranging an assessment
- attending and providing support during the assessment
- completing forms and helping to understand aged care service agreements
- checking in once services have commenced to ensure everything is running smoothly
- connecting to supports in the community such as health, mental health, housing and homelessness, drug and alcohol services, and community groups.
If you believe your client is eligible for My Aged Care and has one or more reasons for requiring intensive assistance to access aged care and other supports, please call 3510 2772 or email for more information. The person must give consent for you to provide any information about them.
Communify Navigators services will complement and should not duplicate the My Aged Care channels available to people who are able to proactively navigate the system for themselves. If a person does not require intensive support, they can call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 or online at www.myagedcare.gov.au to access aged care services.