ELDERLY CITIZENS, HOME VISITS

Ms BEDFORD (Florey) (15:05): My question is to the Minister for Ageing. Can the minister advise the house of the government's actions to support the independence of older people and increase their links with the community?

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE (Wright—Minister for Families and Communities, Minister for Housing, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Disability) (15:05): We are moving into a future with a vastly different population and society to the one we knew only 20 or 30 years ago. We have smaller families, including an increasing number of single person and childless households, families that do have children are smaller, children often live and work vast distances from their parents, and we are living much longer.

I am pleased to announce that we have signed up with Meals on Wheels SA, a highly respected volunteer organisation, to partner with the Seniors Information Service in providing a home visiting service to older members of our community who may for a range of reasons be isolated. With an investment of $3.1 million over four years, we are aiming to conduct 25,000 visits that will help many thousands of our citizens who need it most. Volunteers are receiving specialist training, and in the first phase of the program, which began on 2 February this year, already 220 people have been visited and benefited from this program.

These visits are more than just a cup of tea and a chat. They provide a chance for the trained volunteers to spend time talking with the older person, gain an understanding of their particular circumstance and put them in contact with social groups, sporting clubs, opportunities to be involved in their local community as well as government supports and services that they might need. The aim of this program is to help break down social isolation and keep all older citizens safe, happy and healthy. Where a volunteer becomes aware of a specific need, they can make a direct referral to the relevant agency or ask for a professional assessment.

After the Stockport floods, I directed my department to doorknock every home in the affected areas, and I also joined in this work. I witnessed first-hand the need for and benefit of a personal visit to assess needs and provide support, even if it was just to let people know help was at hand if they needed it.

Older South Australians may not have been through a natural disaster, but age, frailty and disability can be incredibly isolating. Since coming to government we have increased Home and Community Care funding by 99 per cent to a record $174 million this financial year. The services provided by this funding assist older people and those with a disability remain in their homes. Some examples include $16.9 million to the Royal District Nursing Service, who provide a teleservice where older people receive twice daily medication monitoring services through a video phone link; $7.4 million is also provided this financial year across the state to 95 agencies to provide transport for older people.

Labor has also committed $2.8 million over the next four years to expand and better coordinate the community passenger networks to help older South Australians to get to appointments and stay active in their regional areas. We are dedicated to ensuring that older people are supported in their choices to remain active and connected to their communities, their families and their activities.

Together with Meals on Wheels, the Seniors Information Service and the many agencies that deliver in-home support, the state government will continue to help those South Australians who helped shape our state to remain active, connected and valued in our community.