A Specialised Advisory Service for Older People and Those Caring for Them

Abstract

An Information Office for older persons and their carers was established at Bundoora Extended Care Centre in 1990. The Office accepts enquiries by telephone or in person, both by appointment and on an ‘off‐the‐street’ basis. To determine the effectiveness of the project, a study of 798 consecutive enquiries made between October 1990 and March 1991 was conducted. People making enquiries participated in an interview at the time of their initial enquiry and a follow‐up telephone interview 3–4 weeks later. This second interview ascertained the relevance and usefulness of the information provided to the user. The study identified two major groups of enquirers‐professional health workers (40%) and children of elderly people (28%). The main areas of enquiry related to residential care (23%), Aged Care Assessment Teams (20%) and information on specific diseases or disabilities, e.g. Alzheimer's disease (10%).