CARE FINDER

The care finder service is not available for everyone. It exists specifically to support vulnerable older people who need intensive support to access aged care services and support.

To receive care finder support, a person must:

• have no carer or support person who can help them, or
• not have a carer or support person they feel comfortable or trust to support them, and
• be eligible for government-funded aged care (use the Eligibility checker to learn more).

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.

If someone requires care finder support, then a local organisation can connect them with a dedicated care finder.

The care finder will visit them, usually in person. This can be at their home or another place they would like to meet. They will ask questions to understand the person’s situation and support them to work through the steps to address their needs.

Care finders can help vulnerable older people navigate the aged care system and find support services to improve their quality of life. Care finders 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.