Aged Care Information

The Department of Health and Ageing provides a range of useful information on contacts and services available to assist you with ageing and aged care issues.

In this section:

Age Pages

The Age Page is a collection of useful contacts relating to age related topics. It provides a range of contacts for national, state and local community organisations. There are a number of these pages, grouped by local regions.

The Age Page appears in the front of every printed White Pages telephone directory under the Community Help section. You can also search for them online at www.whitepages.com.au by entering "age page" in the White Pages search engine.

They are available by states and territories and then by local regions. The regions are the same as those for the White Pages telephone directories.

Australian Government Directory of Services for Older People 2010

The Australian Government Directory of Services for Older People is an information guide to government services and programs offered to older Australians.

The Directory is for older people, their families and carers, and others seeking information on government services and programs for older people. It contains details on services and contacts for Government organisations like Centrelink, Medicare Australia and the Department of Veterans' Affairs. It is divided into six sections:

Quick information guide
Health choices
Accessing care
Employment choices
Finances choices
Protecting your rights

Copies are available as audio on CD for those with vision impairment. Audio copies on CD may be ordered by fax, mail, or phone.
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Helplines

Aged Care Information Line 1800 500 853*

This helpline provides information and publications on fees, charges, programs and procedures for Commonwealth-funded residential and community care options. It operates from 8.30 am to 5.00 pm AEST Monday to Friday and is closed on national public holidays.

Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centres 1800 052 222*

Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centres link you to a wide range of community, aged care and support services available locally or anywhere in Australia. Centres provide information about services for older people, people with disabilities, and those who provide care and services. Centres also assist carers with options to take a break through short-term and emergency respite services.

Centres have local knowledge about:

the range of services available, including respite, and how to access them;
who may receive services;
any costs associated with receiving services; and
aged care assessment services for access to Community Aged Care Packages or entry into aged care homes.

For emergency respite support outside standard business hours:

Phone: 1800 059 059*
Website: www.commcarelink.health.gov.au
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National Continence Helpline 1800 330 066*

This helpline is staffed by qualified continence nurse advisors who provide prompt, confidential expert advice and referrals to health professionals and to members of the public. The helpline operates 12 hours a day (8.00 am to 8.00 pm AEST), Monday to Friday and is closed on national public holidays.

National Dementia Helpline 1800 100 500*

This helpline provides information, support and referral services for health professionals, people with dementia, their carers and families. The helpline operates during business hours, and has an after hours message service.

Aged Care Complaints Investigation Scheme 1800 550 552*

The Complaints Investigation Scheme is available to anyone who wishes to provide information or raise a complaint or concern about an Australian Government-subsidised aged care service (including residential and community care). Complaints may be made openly, anonymously or confidentially. The Complaints Investigation Scheme can be contacted between 8:30 am and 5:00 pm weekdays and 10:00 am and 5:00 pm AEST weekends and public holidays.

*A free call from most fixed phones. Mobile phones are charged at applicable rates.

Websites

www.agedcareaustralia.gov.au
Aged Care Australia is an aged care website which includes information to assist people to make informed decisions about aged care options.

www.health.gov.au
This is the Department of Health and Ageing website and contains information on the whole department. It features sections for consumers and health professionals which contains information on health and ageing topics.

www.bladderbowel.gov.au
The Bladder Bowel website provides information on the prevention, management and treatment of bladder and bowel problems for consumers, health professionals, service providers, researchers and others.

www.toiletmap.gov.au
The National Public Toilet Map website identifies more than 14,000 public toilets across Australia, providing useful information about each toilet such as location, opening hours, availability of baby change rooms, accessibility for people with disabilities, parking and the details of other nearby toilets.

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