Here to answer questions and help: June Madden, Jody Watmore and Dennie Quintal of the Ageing Well office in Eden. Photo: Denise Dion.
Bega Valley has been identified as an area that has lower than expected claims for government assistance from the elderly and their carers. It is one of seven such areas in NSW but so strong is the data in Bega Valley, that a two-year pilot project has started that aims to discover why people aren’t accessing the support that is available, and help them to do so.
According to COORDINARE – South Eastern NSW PHN’s Population Health Profile, in 2024 Eden had a population of 3459 with 33.2 per cent over 65 and 10 per cent identifying as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Eden is one of the second most socio-economically disadvantaged areas in South Eastern NSW. In the Bega Valley Shire there are 1201 carers over 65.
Given these statistics, there is an expectation about the amount of support that might be needed, but it isn’t being accessed. Now the Ageing Well office at 3/167 Imlay Street, Eden has opened with three staff members to find out why there’s a gap. Funded by COORDINARE – South Eastern NSW PHN, the Ageing Well pilot will help older people and their families in Eden and the surrounding villages to prepare for ageing, find the services and support they need to live well, stay connected, thrive and ultimately stay in their own homes for as long as possible.
If you’re new to town, the team can put you in touch with social groups, can tell you which GPs are accepting new patients or help access the isolated patients travel service, IPTASS.
Although it’s not just about aged care or aged care packages, one of the major ways the project will work is through face-to-face contact to help people unravel the intricacies of the My Aged Care system.
Coordinator in the Ageing Well office Dennie Quintal said 25 to 30 per cent of Eden’s population didn’t have access to a computer or the internet.
“Jody and I came in with some knowledge but discovered that the aged care system is incredibly complicated and frequently changes,” Ms Quintal said. Jody Watmore is an administrator/navigator at the Ageing Well office.
Navigator June Madden cited the aged care package system, which provides varying levels of help for those aged 65 and older, and for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people aged 50 or older.
“The system has recently changed, but those already in the system already will be able to stay on their existing packages for two years. We want to help people get the best from their packages,” Ms Madden said.
“It’s not our job to replace existing services but to help connect to them. Part of what we do are warm handovers, being able to speak to providers and clients, taking people from being bewildered to being helped,” Ms Quintal said.
Carina Severs, manager at the Eden Access Centre, agreed, saying it was about trying to bridge the gap and get people connected to services.
“Navigators can help people understand their options and connect with appropriate health, aged care, community and wellbeing services. They can also support people to use digital tools, access preventive health checks and connect with local programs that promote physical activity, mental wellbeing and social connection.
“Volunteer connectors will also be trained to help people confidently use service pathways and planning tools. People with more complex needs will be connected with existing community and local service providers, including general practice nurses, care coordination, care finders and specialist services,” said Ms Severs.
“Eden and the surrounding villages have a low connection to services and access to pension payments. Our stats are as low as some really isolated communities,” Ms Severs said.
Since opening the office, the team have already been helping people navigate a diverse range of needs. Ms Watmore helped a man put his car for sale on a social media site, assisted another man with filling in the census forms and helped someone else with a letter.
When a man came to the office wanting to talk about how he might continue to live independently, Ms Madden suggested they schedule an aged care assessment and offered to be there for the assessment to help if needed. “If someone is living alone they may need to think about how they may get help if anything happens, if they fall and can’t reach a phone,” she said.
One in four people in the Bega Valley live alone, and 2466 of them are aged 65 and older. Lack of social connection can be a major contributor to cognitive decline. One in 20 households in the Bega Valley don’t have a car and Ms Severs regularly drives a person to South East Regional Hospital, Bega for treatment because there is no Community Transport option.
It’s not just older people who need support but carers too, and a carer allowance can support people to keep a loved one at home.
The team at Ageing Well are keen to help the Bega Valley community and expect to hold pop-up sessions in some of the outlying villages too.
“We’re trying to bridge the gap and get people connected to services,” Ms Severs said.
The invitation is open for anyone to drop into the office to discuss ageing well either for themselves or for someone they care for.
