Cowper funding investment helps transform aged care from family to frontline

It has been a monumental effort by aged care providers across the Cowper electorate to ensure not one resident in any facility contracted, or came into contact with, COVID-19.

Similarly, the community support of the region's aged care workforce and the challenges faced during this health crisis is a testament to the important role they play in providing critical care for our elderly.

That work has been further supported with a $205 million investment by the Federal Government in the 23 residential aged care facilities across Cowper.

The funding announcement was made by Cowper MP Pat Conaghan at Garden Village in Port Macquarie on May 11.

The funding equates to around $1350 per person in Commonwealth-funded residential aged care facilities and will be used to support the additional costs of caring for the health and wellbeing of residents during this pandemic.

"Senior Australians are highly vulnerable to coronavirus and we have sadly witnessed the impact the pandemic can have on elderly people in aged care facilities in Sydney right now," Mr Conaghan said.

From funding the purchase of more personal protective equipment for staff to the rollout of specialist care training, the funding will be a boost to best care practices into the future, he added.

Garden Village CEO Craig Wearne praised health care and nursing staff for their tireless dedication to their profession. He also thanked the families of residents and the broader community for supporting their staff and residents through this difficult time.

"When you are caring for a person, you are not just caring for their physical wellbeing. A large part of care is about their mental and social wellbeing as well," Mr Wearne said.

"We've had residents whose loved one come and visit once a week, or every day even, and when that stops all of a sudden, we have to think outside the box on how to manage that."

The legacy of the challenges faced today, Mr Wearne said, will be a positive 'new normal' for aged care where the adoption of new technology will ensure families are more connected and involved.

Garden Village employs 220 staff and has 142 aged care clients and 300 residents in its retirement village.

"Port Macquarie has a wonderfully cohesive community," he said, thanking everyone who rallied to sew 300 additional face masks for staff to the children who have written letters of support to residents.

Charles Sturt University students even provided a grocery service for residents who were unable to visit the shops for essential supplies.

"There will be many positives to come out of COVID-19, particularly in communication," he said.

"The increase use of technology means people have been able to be much more connected to their loved ones. The technology really has been amazing."

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