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Consumer Assistance

It is never too early to begin planning for your future. Services for older South Australians and Northern Territorians are wide-ranging and navigating the system can be quite complex. It is more difficult if the decision has to be made urgently.

It is a good idea to find out what is available in your local area, the area where your friends or family live, or areas where you might choose to live.

Australia's aged care system is designed to ensure older Australians receive support and quality care when they need it most - with services to help older people stay in their homes, through to residential care (a hostel or nursing home). There are also short term care options - again either at home or in residential care.

There are many organisations available to support older South Australians and Northern Territorians with their inquiries into aged care. See below for further information:

COTA National Seniors	COTA promotes a positive community understanding of ageing, taking into account the diversity of older people, the wide range of their interests, skills, knowledge and capacity to contribute to the community.
Seniors Information Service	Seniors Information Service provides information and referral to older people, their families, carers and service providers on: Aged care facilities - including locations, current vacancies and costs. Housing options - including retirement villages, rental and community. housing A range of general issues concerning older people.
Aged Rights Advocacy Service	The Aged Rights Advocacy Service (ARAS) offers a free, confidential and independent service to older people (or their representatives) who are: Receiving community based services. Living in Commonwealth subsidised aged care facilities. Receiving community aged care packages. at risk of, or are, experiencing abuse. ARAS provides advocacy assistance to support older people to uphold their rights.
Department of Health & Ageing	DHA is the Federal Government Department who supports healthy ageing for older Australians and quality and cost-effective care for frail older people and support for their carers. Links on this page will take you to information about services available to older people and their carers.
Commonwealth Carelink Centres	Commonwealth Carelink Centres are a national initiative to assist anybody who needs information and contact details about community care services and aged care homes in their local area. Each Centre provides local information about services in the community - either over the telephone or face-to-face through a nationwide network of shopfronts.
Aged Care Assessment Teams	Aged Care Assessment Teams (ACATs) can help you decide which services you need. They can help you to get residential care or a Community Aged Care Package (CACP), refer you to community care services, or help you arrange respite care in a residential setting.
Alzheimers Association (SA)	Alzheimers Australia is the peak body providing support and advocacy for the 500,000 Australians living with dementia.
Carers Association	The Carers Association is the peak carers' organisation representing all carers in South Australia. It aims to empower carers to participate in partnership with government and non-government organisations for provision of better services, to improve conditions under which carers work, and to increase recognition of carers' contribution to the South Australian community and economy.
Palliative Care Association	Palliative Care Australia is the national peak body for palliative care in Australia. Their goal is to work towards the relief of pain and suffering of dying people in Australia and provision of the care they need. Palliative care is about caring for people with a terminal illness, as well as their families and friends. Palliative care is care which 'palliates', or relieves pain and other symptoms. It is given when treatment to cure an illness won’t work any longer. It aims to ease the pain, distress and many other physical, emotional and spiritual problems that are present with a terminal illness.