Wheatbelt aged care services

The Wheatbelt Aged Care Unit was established in July 2006 and is the largest provider of aged care services in the Wheatbelt with approximately 200 residential clients and 1500 community and home care clients. Aged Care accounts for 75 per cent of Wheatbelt hospital activity. These aged care services are delivered across 20 multi-purpose service sties and four State health service funding models.

The Wheatbelt Aged Care Unit is committed to championing a shared vision of an environment of care and support for older people.

The role of the Aged Care Unit is to:

• Assist older people, their families / carers to navigate the health and aged care system
• Support staff in the WACHS Wheatbelt region to provide best practice care for the aged in home, community and residential settings.

Geriatrician services

A consultant geriatrician is now located in the Wheatbelt providing services across the region.

A geriatrician is a specialist doctor who cares for people over the age of 65. Geriatricians can complete a comprehensive overall health assessment and have expertise in managing:

• Dementia and other cognitive problems
• Incontinence
• Medicines
• Nutrition
• Problems with mobility and frailty
• Other medical issues

To see a geriatrician, a referral from your GP is required, and can be sent to:

WACHS-WheatbeltACAT@health.wa.gov.au

Psycho-geriatrician

A visiting psycho-geriatrician delivers a service through Seniors Mental Health.

The Aged Care team can be contacted as follows:

Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT)
Address: Northam Health Service, Robinson St, Northam
Phone: (08) 9690 1318
Fax: (08) 9690 1601
Email: wheatbeltacat@health.wa.gov.au