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 homes (RACHs).
Broadly speaking, we have a role in:
supporting RACHs’ 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.
Education and training for people working in aged care
Primary Health Tasmania runs education events and has developed training to support people working in the aged care sector.
For education events, keep on eye on the events page of our website.
Recognising deterioration in the older person: Designed to equip aged care nurses and workers with the necessary knowledge and skills to recognise signs of deterioration in older people. Each module guides either workers or clinical staff in how their role contributes to managing the health of aged care residents.
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 home (RACH) staff involved in an older person’s care.
After-hours toolkit for aged care homes
After-hours plans identify how to manage residents’ health care in the after-hours period.
Primary Health Tasmania has created a suite of resources to assist with after-hours support planning for RACHs, including a planning guide and two workbooks plus accompanying instructional videos.
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 home staff through all the necessary information, such as service provider details, handover summary, a checklist of documents to be included, and more.
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 home.
The guidelines use ISOBAR principles to guide staff to provide the required information during handover.
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.
Our Snapshot of Priority Populations in Tasmania resource gives an overview of health data and information for priority population groups including older people.
Primary Health Tasmania has created a webpage with information, resources and helpful links to assist health professionals in identifying and managing dementia.
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.
Dementia information sheet and webpage for consumers
Primary Health Tasmania has collaborated with the Victorian Primary Health Networks to develop a two-page information sheet which outlines where patients, family and carers can find services and support following a dementia diagnosis. It is available in English, Greek, Simplified Chinese, Nepali, Italian and Spanish. The information sheet links to the online Dementia Directory, developed by Primary Health Tasmania and FindHelpTAS. This information sheet and other helpful information is available on our dementia webpage for the community.
This Primary Health Tasmania resource allows people to track information related to their healthcare journey, including personal details, health conditions, appointments and medication.
Mental health support for people in aged care homes
Primary Health Tasmania has commissioned Richmond Fellowship Tasmania to deliver psychological treatment services for people with mental illness who are living in aged care homes.
The aim is to give these residents access to similar services as those currently available in the community.
Primary Health Tasmania, with funding from the Australian Government, is reviewing and enhancing existing dementia support pathways to ensure they are comprehensive and align with current best practice in dementia care.
This work also includes developing, maintaining and improving localised consumer resources to help older people, their families and carers understand and make informed decisions about health and aged care services.
Some older people need extra, intensive support to access aged care services and other supports in the community.
The Australian Government-funded care finder program helps vulnerable older people find and connect with aged care services in their local area.
Primary Health Tasmania has engaged four organisations to deliver care finder services in Tasmania. More information is available in this fact sheet and on Our Services Portal.
Establishment of this program in Tasmania was informed by a needs assessment process. You can find our needs assessment report here. We thank everyone who provided information and feedback as part of this process.
