Health initiatives to improve the wellbeing of aged care residents
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The Victorian Not For Profit has received $192,000 from the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care to trial telehealth in eight of its 14 residential aged care homes.
Telehealth enables remote consultations with healthcare providers via video calls, offering early medical assessments.
“Telehealth will allow residents to stay in the comfort of their homes, reducing unnecessary hospital transfers and the burden on emergency services,” said VMCH Chief Operating Officer David Williamson.
The initiative addresses a recommendation from the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety highlighting the need for equitable access to care, especially after hours and for specialist services.
While residents can use Telehealth independently, VMCH is providing staff training to provide support as needed.
Sash Pokharel, Care Manager at VMCH Wantirna in Melbourne’s east, called Telehealth a “game changer,” noting it creates a stress-free environment for residents who no longer need to leave home for medical assessments.
In addition, VMCH is involved in another innovative health initiative for residents, currently being rolled out across four of its aged care homes.
The Victorian Department of Health is leading a clinical trial, installing Germicidal Ultraviolet Lights into the ceilings or walls in 100 residential aged care homes to see if it is successful in reducing the transmission of the flu, COVID-19, and other respiratory viruses.
Germicidal UV lighting has been used in hospitals for many years to reduce the spread of disease.
The lights were installed in four VMCH aged care homes, with five more acting as a control group. They are expected to be turned on in September, once all participating organisations have lighting installed.