Equitable disability care for people in rural areas in Australia

Extract: It is when the client or patient moves from the acute health system to rehabilitation and disability care that the real service deficits in rural and remote areas became so telling. This situation is of course due to the shortage of infrastructure, relevant health professionals and local support services in rural and remote areas: precisely the same challenges as experienced by people seeking health and aged care in those areas.

 

Those at the Roundtable also agreed on a number of other matters. The whole situation is extraordinarily complex, particularly in rural and remote areas where, as described above, health, aged care and disability issues are so intertwined.

 

It surprised some people to hear that the services which are missing and which can do so much for a family caring for someone with a disability are not only - sometimes not mainly - the services provided by health professionals. Rather, they are the care provided by nonprofessional workers: the respite care of the appropriate type and at the appropriate time; the help with transport or meals; the assistance with painting or rubbish removal. (Hopefully Medicare Locals will hear these views and be provided with the wherewithal to help in such areas - demonstrating that they can and will be true primary health care organisations.)

 

Full article here.