Statewide wound strategy

The Victorian Government has announced a preventative wound initiative for older people.

The Victorian Government has announced a $5 million strategy to help older people in need of chronic wound care.

The program will particularly target older Victorians living in rural and regional areas and will provide support to people living at home and in residential aged care facilities.

“Complications from chronic wounds are significant cause of public hospital admissions and a big worry for older people. As we age, wounds get harder to heal,” said the Minister for Senior Victorians, Lisa Neville.

“Up to 15 per cent of mobility-challenged older people get pressure wounds, which can easily worsen.”

“Chronic wounds significantly reduce quality of life and increase demand on our health system.”

A major focus of the initiative is to decrease the incidence of pressure ulcers among residents of aged care facilities.

“Statewide, nearly 300 new electronic beds with pressure-relieving mattresses will improve the care of higher-dependency residents, along with nearly 200 specialised pressure care mattress overlays,” said Ms Neville.

A pressure ulcer training package for all Victorian residential aged care staff is also being developed by the Victorian Quality Council.

Close to $3 million will be used to support wound care clinical nurse consultants in rural and regional Victoria. 

A further $2 million has been provided to all public sector residential homes in Victoria for special equipment.

The majority of this funding will also be targeted at rural and regional services.

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