Older people in the Great Southern and Goldfields will now be able to choose not-for-profit aged care provider Juniper to access support in their own home and community as Juniper offers services previously provided by the WA Country Health Service (WACHS).
Previous WACHS Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) customers in the Great Southern and Goldfields regions who choose Juniper will start receiving in-home services from July 1, 2024.
“Juniper is already well known in the Great Southern and Wheatbelt, providing Home Care in Northam and surrounds, and Residential Aged Care in Wagin, Katanning and Albany. This opportunity to provide Home Care in the Great Southern and Goldfields regions means we can support older people to continue living close to family and friends and within the community they love,” Juniper CEO Russell Bricknell said.
“Particularly in regional areas, the tie to the community is so strong. It’s important to so many people they can keep living well in their own home, connected to the place, people and all their passions they’ve pursued their whole life.
“By Juniper providing high quality Home Care services, we’re able to support our customers to stay independent and healthy at home.”
Juniper is working closely with communities to ensure a smooth transition of services. Customers previously receiving WACHS services reside in and around Katanning, Woodanilling, Moojebing, Broomehill, Kojonup, Boscabel, Muradup, Tambellup, Gnowangerup, Jerramungup, Ravensthorpe, Hopetoun, and Bremer Bay.
To ensure the continuity of services, Juniper has also offered employment to support workers who currently service customers.
CHSP (previously known as HACC) is an entry level program funded by the Federal Government that supports people who may be having difficulties with everyday tasks.
Allocated funding allows providers like Juniper to offer services to a certain number of CHSP customers. Once Juniper starts providing services to about 250 existing CHSP customers in these regions, it will assess if it has funding opportunity to take on more CHSP customers.
For those people with higher needs in the Great Southern and Goldfields extending along the coast to Esperance, Juniper will also be able to provide in-home services to customers with a Home Care Package.
Home Care Packages are for people with greater or more complex care needs who need ongoing care and support services. Home Care Package funding for individuals depends on the level assigned following an Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) assessment by the Federal Government.
“We are really excited about being able to offer Home Care Package services. We already service thousands of Home Care Package customers in Perth metro, Peel and Wheatbelt, so we can’t wait to bring that expertise, care and compassion to Great Southern and Goldfields customers,” Mr Bricknell said.
“As a Western Australian organisation that has been serving communities for 75 years, we’re also proud to be able to offer great employment opportunities in regional areas. We’ve already experienced a warm welcome and enthusiasm from both former WACHS customers and staff to join Juniper.”
Following visits to Katanning, Hopetoun, and Kojonup by the Juniper team, almost all WACHS staff from the allocated areas have joined Juniper, ensuring continuity of service delivery and providing comfort to customers to remain connected to people they already trust and know. Further visits to local shires will occur in the coming months.
“As we learn more about the needs of each community, we hope to offer further employment opportunities and services,” Mr Bricknell said.
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