Biography
Angela is the General Manager for Helping Hand Aged Care in South Australia. She is responsible for residential services, serving 600 residents and over 7000 clients through community based services. Her role encompasses independent living options for older people, housing, community based packages of care (including CDC), residential care and dementia care.
Prior to joining Helping Hand, Angela spent five years in NSW working predominantly with NSW Health on the state-wide Clinical Service Redesign Program. She led the State-wide Clinical Service Re-design program to improve the care of older people and people with chronic disease with NSW Health.
Angela completed her PhD research in the area of innovation in the care of older people with chronic disease and the relationship of innovation to policy.
Angela has over 25 years’ experience in managing a range community services focused on improving the health and well being of older people.
Littleford, A.
Paper
Toward health ageing in Australia – health promoting aged care.
Australia has made significant inroads in embracing the philosophy of the Work Health Organisation’s (WHO) World Report on Ageing and Health and the WHO Global Strategy and Action Plan (GASP).
This presentation will provide an overview of primary and secondary prevention strategies in residential and community aged care environments. Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACFs) prevent the need for hospital transfer through innovative programs that include colocation of General Practitioner (GP) clinics; the use of Nurse Practitioners in Chronic Disease Management and End of Life Care; expanded allied health teams which now include exercise physiology in addition to the seven traditional allied health disciplines as well as Chronic Disease Management Plans that are available in primary care.
In Australia 81.6% of people aged over 65 years has at least one chronic condition. Through an individual’s “GP” they can access additional Medicare funded services through a Chronic Disease Management Plan (CDMP). These plans give access to a range of nursing and allied health expertise designed to assist the individual in the management of their chronic condition.
Statistics showing the frequency of uptake of a “CDMP” reveal that approximately 66% of the population over 65 years do not have one and therefore are missing out on services that would assist them to successfully manage their condition and prevent acute exacerbation. After the age of 65 years the average life expectancy is 81.7 years; therefore an older person could be living with at least one chronic disease, on average, for 16.7 years. This makes the need to ensure effective secondary prevention critical.
Helping Hand Aged Care, a provider of both residential and community based care to over 7000 South Australians, runs a variety of health promoting programs including a healthy ageing and wellness program that aims to boost strength, stability, confidence and vitality. The Wellness program engages a range of Helping Hand health experts who build up participant’s toolkits for a healthy, active and engaged lifestyle. Participants receive new information and practical skills in a friendly and supportive environment.
The Wellness Toolkit is a group program delivered over ten weeks and gives participants guidance from: Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Podiatry, Social Work, Nursing, Dietetics, Exercise Physiology and Speech Pathology. A wellness focused survey is used at the commencement of the program to assist participants in identifying their individual needs and goals. Evaluation of the program has demonstrated outstanding results with participants eager to continue their learning and self management.
