The Network offers free help to people aged 55 and over in navigating their aged care rights under the National Aged Care Advocacy Program (NACAP) which the Turnbull Government established in 2017.
According to their new figures, OPAN had a combined 1,330 information contacts and cases of people at risk of or experiencing elder abuse in its first year and held 285 sessions to educate older people and providers about elder abuse protection.
The extra funding builds on $1 million already provided to OPAN to help combat elder abuse in the past year.
In total, its funding is $25.7 million over three years which goes toward key projects including
- Developing national elder abuse advocacy response protocols;
- Creating a national decision-making system to support older people, especially those living with dementia;
- Implementing a national elder abuse minimum dataset;
- Mapping elder abuse referral and support pathways in each state and territory; and
- Researching special needs of rural and remote populations.
A sign that the Government is taking consumer rights seriously.
