RSL Care + RDNS, a not-for-profit health provider with a 200-year history of supporting the Veteran community, is collaborating with Legacy Australia to provide a new service for the families of ex-servicemen and women.

The Legacy Navigator service is a dedicated phone service that supports and informs the work already undertaken by Legatees and Legacy Pensions and Welfare Officers to provide Legacy members with up-to-date information on the changing aged care system.

The service draws on the experience of RSL Care + RDNS to provide a dedicated helpline for the Legacy community, particularly in preparation for changes in how Home Care Packages are delivered from February 2017.

It operates Monday to Friday from 9am-5pm and provides information on the types of in-home aged care, nursing and support available, the process for accessing aged care and using My Aged Care, home support options including Department of Veterans’ Affairs Community Nursing and Veterans’ Home Care Programs and the Commonwealth Home Support and Home Care Package programs.

RSL Care + RDNS will also provide free health and wellbeing presentations for Legacy groups.

Legacy Australia Chairman Tony Ralph said recent changes to Home Care which gave consumers control over choosing their provider and spending their allowed funds could be confusing for people not used to dealing with a consumer-directed care system. Pilot Navigator services in Queensland and NSW had helped reduce confusion and connect members with the best solutions for their situation.

“In some instances the widow may be eligible for a multitude of different services, through different programs,” she said.

“Our Navigator pilot programs at Brisbane Water and Brisbane Legacy clubs offered Legatees, widows and family members the opportunity to ring a dedicated number to make enquiries and seek help navigating their journey, from understanding how to be assessed for eligibility through to selecting a provider and paying for the services.

“Now, RDNS HomeCare’s friendly navigators can provide Legacy community callers from around Australia with free and easy-to-understand information so they can make informed decisions about their health and wellbeing.”

In August, RSL Care + RDNS and Legacy signed a letter of collaboration to roll the service out on a national basis to support the 80,000 families of Veterans who receive Legacy support.

“Navigators” answering calls have a wealth of knowledge and experience from working closely with and delivering Department of Veterans’ Affairs programs and other government health and aged care programs.

Legacy beneficiaries and Legatees can access the service on 1300-577-884.