When should I connect a person to a Care Finder at COTA Victoria?
Care Finders support vulnerable older people who would not be able to arrange services without with intensive support and who do not have a family member or friends who can help.
Care Finder services are free as they are fully funded through Primary Health Networks to provide you with personalised, independent information and guidance so that you can access the right aged care services for you.
Who can receive assistance from a Care Finder?
Care Finders are not for everyone. They specifically help vulnerable older Australians who need intensive assistance to access aged care and other supports.
To receive care finder support, a person must:
- have no carer or support person who can help them, or
- not have a carer of support person they feel comfortable or trust to support them, and
- be eligible for government-funded aged care.
In addition, they should have one or more of these reasons for needing intensive support:
- have difficulty communicating because of language or literacy problems
- find it difficult to understand information and make decisions
- be reluctant to engage with aged care or government
- be in an unsafe situation if they do not receive services.
How do I find a Care Finder organisation near me?
Our team of Care Finders assist primarily those residing in the South East Melbourne Primary Health Network with a focus on the City of Kingston, however if you live outside this area, click here to find a Care Finder organisation local to you.
How does the service work?
If somebody requires assistance with aged care services and a local Care Finder organisation has been contacted, a member of the Care Finder team will meet with them, usually in person. This can be at their home or another place they choose. The Care Finder will ask questions to understand the person’s situation and support them to work through the steps to address their needs.
What help can Care Finders provide?
Care Finders can help people understand what aged care services are available, set up an assessment and find and choose services. They also help people with access to other supports in the community. They can help with both accessing services for the first time and changing or finding new services and supports.
They can help someone with:
- talking to My Aged Care on their behalf and arranging an assessment
- attending and providing support at the assessment
- finding and short-listing aged care providers in their area
- completing forms and understanding aged care service agreements
- checking-in once services are up and running to make sure everything is OK
- solving other challenges and connecting to supports in the community, such as health, mental health, housing and homelessness, drug and alcohol services and community groups.
They will ask some questions about why the person needs help from a Care Finder.
The person must give consent for you to provide any information about them to the care finder organisation. It is best if the person is with you when you make the call.
How do I connect someone else to a Care Finder?
The person must give consent for you to provide any information about them to the care finder organisation. It is best if the person is with you when you make the call.
They will ask some questions about why the person needs help from a care finder.
At present COTA Victoria assists primarily those residing in the South East Melbourne Primary Health Network with a focus on the City of Kingston, however there is a Care Finder organisation for everyone so if you or the person you wish to connect lives outside this area, click here to find a Care Finder organisation local to you.
Contact COTA Victoria’s Care Finder team
Phone: 1300 135 090
Email: carefinder@cotavic.org.au
Please let us know if English is not your first language and you need an interpreter to support you.
What if a care finder isn’t right for someone?
Most people who need aged care should call My Aged Care on 1800 200 244 or visit myagedcare.gov.au to discuss their needs and arrange an assessment.
If someone would like help to talk to My Aged Care or to use the website they can go to any Services Australia centre. There are Aged Care Specialist officers who give face-to-face help in 70 Services Australia service centres. Visit the Services Australia website to see where these are located or call 1800 227 475.
Other supports and their contact details
- Advocacy support – contact OPAN (Older Persons Advocacy Network website) or call 1800 700 600
- Carer support – contact Carer Gateway or call 1800 422 737
- National Dementia Helpline call 1800 100 50
Listen to Podcast episodes
COTA Victoria’s Care Finder Team Leader, Karen Ivanka, talks with Peter Thomas on the following topics:
- Podcast #1 – Helping you navigate My Aged Care
- Podcast #2 – Engaging with the community
- Podcast #3 – Supporting you in your home
