THE second of three Older Adult Health Hubs has now opened in the East Metropolitan catchment in Belmont and will service older people from Midland, the Swan Valley and the Perth Hills.

Residents with complex care needs from these areas can now access the service with a referral from their local GP.

The new Belmont Older Adult Health Hub aims to strengthen community-based, accessible services for older Western Australians and support them to stay healthy in the community and avoid hospitalisation where possible.

The hub brings together a multidisciplinary team of doctors, nurses, geriatricians and allied health professionals to co-ordinate assessments, treatment and referral pathways in one location.

Services include comprehensive geriatric assessments, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, nursing, medication management, dietetics, memory and cognition support, and links to community and social services.

“Care can be delivered face-to-face, by phone or video, and through home visits where appropriate, depending on a person’s needs, helping reduce barriers to access for people with mobility or transport challenges,” a health department spokesperson said. “Local GPs have been engaged by WA Health regarding the services on offer.”

The hub will also offer co-ordinated support for frailty and falls, memory and cognition, medication management, functional decline, advance care planning, and access to aged care and community services.

Working alongside a patient’s GP and existing health care providers, the hub will provide targeted support to stabilise health and develop plans for ongoing care.

The hubs work alongside existing health services and community and older adult programs.

Health Minister Meredith Hammat said the government was investing $24.3 million to deliver a new model of care that brings geriatricians, nurses and allied health professionals together, giving older Western Australians more co-ordinated care closer to home.

“By providing co-ordinated care earlier, we can help older Western Australians stay healthier and independent for longer, while avoiding unnecessary hospital visits and easing pressure on our busy hospitals,” she said.

Aged Care and Seniors Minister Simone McGurk said the government wanted to keep older Western Australians well in the community.

“Strengthening community-based care is one way to do this,” she said.“For older adults living with chronic or complex conditions, this co-ordinated approach means they can stay well and avoid unnecessary hospitalisations.

“The hub also provides real, practical support for families and carers navigating aged care and health services, from assessments to advance care planning and connecting to services like home care and transport.”

The Belmont hub, located at 95 Belgravia Street, is part of a Cook Labor government $24.3m election commitment to establish three Older Adult Health Hubs across Perth.