Several Primary Health Networks across the country have a role in supporting the health outcomes of senior Australians — Primary Health Tasmania is one of them.
Our work in aged care is wide-ranging, and encompasses both preventive health initiatives, support for primary health professionals, and work with Tasmania’s residential aged care facilities (RACFs).
Broadly speaking, we have a role in:
supporting RACFs increased access to and use of telehealth care options for their residents
strengthened after-hours support for residential aged care
early intervention initiatives to support healthy ageing
supporting primary health professionals in caring for older people, such as electronic medication management resources and Tasmanian HealthPathways.
By 2042, more than 25 per cent of the Tasmanian population will be aged 65 years and over.
Resources to support aged care staff and health professionals
Primary Health Tasmania supports a range of resources to support health professionals and residential aged care facility staff involved in an older person’s care.
Yellow Envelope
Developed by Primary Health Tasmania, the Yellow Envelope resource is exactly what it sounds like: a canary yellow A4 sleeve, designed to capture key patient handover information, and keep relevant health records safe and secure in a single spot.
The two-sided envelope is clearly and concisely labelled, and steps aged care facility staff through all the necessary information, such as service provider details, handover summary, a checklist of documents to be included, and more.
Emergency Decision Guidelines
The Emergency Decision Guidelines are a step-by-step guide to provide information on the identification, assessment and management of an acutely unwell or deteriorating resident in an aged care facility.
The guidelines use ISOBAR principles to guide staff to provide the required information during handover.
Shared Transfer of Care
Primary Health Tasmania’s Shared Transfer of Care program sets the standard for transfers of care by promoting a shared approach between organisations, service providers, communities and healthcare consumers
Primary Health Tasmania has supported the development of a range of deprescribing resources, including fact sheets on medications such as antipsychotics, opioids and glaucoma eye drops.
Mental health support for people in aged care facilities
Primary Health Tasmania has commissioned Richmond Fellowship Tasmania to deliver psychological treatment services for people with mental illness who are living in aged care facilities.
The aim is to give these residents access to similar services as those currently available in the community.
Care Finders is an initiative of the Australian Government in response to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. It aims to connect and engage older people who have significant difficulty accessing aged care services and are at risk of ‘falling through the cracks’.
Primary Health Tasmania has received Australian Government funding to commission service providers to deliver Care Finders in Tasmania from January 2023.
My Aged Care is an Australian Government website and phone line to help people find out what aged care services may be available.
It includes a service finder feature where an individual or their carer can look for local meal, support and care coordination services, and much more.
