Ageing in Place
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Oakdale Services Tasmania became a partner in a national pilot program in June 2003. This program was jointly funded by the Commonwealth and State governments to allow clients to "Age In Place".
The principal aim of the pilot was to enable an individual to remain in their familiar living environment, avoiding the early transition into residential aged care where that transition was not appropriate to individual needs. The service model tested the effectiveness and efficiency of pooling aged care funding and disability funding to provide ageing in place.
The pilot operated for 3 years. The project was subjected to national evaluation of this and other pilots by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
The program was not continued after the pilot was completed an assessed. However individuals in the test program will continue to be supported under a ‘grandfather’ clause. This decision, taken by the then Federal Minister for Ageing, was based solely on the political and bureaucratic challenges facing Commonwealth and State governments. These challenges were to determine how the issue of ageing, a Federal responsibility, and disability, a State responsibility, could be jointly administered. The decision was in no way a reflection on the quality of the program as provided by Oakdale Services.
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Oakdale Services continues to advocate that transition into aged care facilities should be delayed to avoid the loss of friends and support networks, through the maintenance of familiar environments within their homes.
There are seven clients, all residents of Oakdale Lodge, supported under this program. They, together with other Lodge residents, participate in a wide range of activities. This provides for a smoother transition from the workplace in to retirement.