Sector encouraged to take part in survey for homelessness action plan

Aged care providers, professionals and services are being called upon to complete an online survey about improving services for older people who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

Even those that don’t specialise in providing services to people experiencing or at risk of homelessness are encouraged to complete the survey, which has been developed by the Housing for the Aged Action Group (HAAG) to inform the homelessness action plan.

HAAG is a member of the aged care sector committee diversity subgroup that is working with government to develop the action plan under the Aged Care Diversity Framework, which was launched in December 2017.

The framework aims to embed diversity in the design and delivery of aged care, address perceived or actual barriers to older people accessing safe, equitable and quality aged care and enable consumers and carers to be part of the process.

Homelessness is the fourth target area in addition to other individual plans addressing the particular barriers and challenges faced by older people from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse communities, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex seniors and older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

The survey targeting aged care professionals, providers and services is available here.

HAAG also wants to hear from older people who have received or tried to access aged care services while living:

• in rented, temporary, unsuitable, unsafe or overcrowded accommodation
• living with friends or family because no other option is available, or
• living in a car or on the streets.

The survey for older people or their friends, families and carers, who meet this criteria can complete is available here.

Both surveys close on 8 February 2019.

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