Advocacy to protect the rights of people living in residential aged care facilities or receiving Home and Community Care Services

Advocare is an independent advocacy agency which seeks to advance and protect the rights and best interests of

• People living in residential aged care facilities;
• People living in the community who are receiving support under the Home and Community Care (HACC) Program;
• People not currently receiving these services but who are eligibly for them; and
• People who are being abused, or at risk of being abused, by someone with whom they are in a relationship of trust, such as family and friends.

Advocacy in Action

Advocare recognises that it can be more difficult for people to assert and protect their own rights when they are dependent on others to have their care needs met.

Advocare believes that it is important to support people to assert their own rights and to advance and maintain their own best interests wherever possible.

Where this is not possible, Advocare may

• Support family members, carers and other interested parties to advocate on behalf of the person whose rights may be at risk; and
• Advocate directly to other people or agencies who are involved in the person's care or who can help safeguard their rights.

Where groups of people appear to be disadvantaged by the same problem or issues Advocare will develop strategies to address the problem at a broader community level.

Advocacy

Is a way of supporting people who may have difficulty safeguarding their own rights or representing and advancing their own best interests. An advocate can act on behalf of a person who may not be able to ensure their own rights are protected.

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Advocare Services

ADVOCACY

Advocare can provide advocacy and representation for people who cannot represent themselves and where other sources of potential advocacy support are not available or practical.

INFORMATION

Advocare can advise on people's rights and sources of help and support in the community. This ensures people have all the information they need to help them make an informed decision.

REFERRAL

Advocare can make referrals to other community support agencies.

SUPPORT

Advocare can provide an advocate to support people in making decision that are right for them.

EDUCATION

Advocare provides education to the wider community so all members of the community have the information they need and can share this information.

RIGHTS

The rights of older people and people with disabilities are protected under State and Commonwealth Legislation and Standards.

They include the person's right to:

• Be treated with dignity and have their privacy respected;
• Receive services which are based upon individual needs and to access services without discrimination;
• Exercise as much independence and control over their own life as they are capable of doing, which includes the right to be kept informed of the options available to them and the right to play an active part in decisions which may affect them;
• Raise and have resolved concerns or complaints about the service they are receiving; and
• Choose an advocate to act on their behalf

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Abuse Prevention Program

Are Older People Abused?

About one in twenty-five people over the age of 65 years of age experience abuse or is mistreated by someone they trust.

What Is Abuse?

Abuse may take many forms such as:

• Financial or Material - Use of an older person's property or money without permission
• Emotional - Verbal threats of punishment or abandonment and intimidation
• Physical - Slapping, punching, pushing or restraining
• Sexual - Sex without consent, interference and harassment
• Social - Restricting social freedom and isolation from family and friends
• Neglect - Failure to provide essentials such as adequate food, shelter, care and emotional support

Preventing Abuse of Older People

Advocare supports people to assert their own rights and to advance and maintain their own best interests.

Advocare provides information and education about the rights of older people.

Prevent abuse happening to you

• Be as independent as possible
• Plan to be safe and feel safe
• Remain active in the community
• Plan for the future
  

"Older people should be able to live in dignity and security and be free of exploitation and physical or mental abuse." - UN Principals for Older Persons

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You can contact Advocare:

Perth
Unit 1, Byblos House
190 Abernethy Rd.
Belmont WA 6104

Geraldton
Lotteries House
180 Marine Terrace
Geraldton WA 6530

Phone:
Perth: (08) 9479 7566
Geraldton: (08) 9964 4887

Fax:
Perth : (08) 9479 7599

Email:
Perth: rights@advocare.org.au
Geraldton: advogeo@westnet.com.au

Web-site:
www.advocare.org.au

Freecall: 1800 655 566

Funded by:
The Commonwealth Dept of Health and Family Services
The Health Department of Western Australia

 

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