Seniors News | 13th Jun 2017 11:31 AM     Article provided by Seniors News

FOR many seniors, the reality of living out the dream in a country hideaway, was an impractical choice.

However, thanks to new funding, that is all about to change.

The NSW Government has announced a record $100 million spend on palliative care services with a major focus on regional communities.

“Whether you live in Sydney, whether you live in Western Sydney, whether you live in a remote community in rural and regional NSW, you will have access to greater care,” NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said.

The funding, which will be rolled out over four years, will assign six palliative care nurses and two specialists exclusively to regional and rural areas.

Health professionals working in the country will also be offered the chance to build skills in palliative care with the funding to offer training and scholarships for hundreds of staff.

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the funding announcement offered the chance for the elderly to see out their days in their own homes.

“About 70 per cent of us generally say we’d like to pass away at home,” Mr Hazzard said.  “In reality, about 70 per cent of us currently pass away in hospitals and nursing homes.”