Healthy ageing service helping the elderly get out and about
Peta Stolz was thankful for the support of the HAART service which helped her get out and about and enjoy life far more. She is pictures with Senior Occupational Therapist, Natalie Toone.
A unique service which supports older persons address aged-related medical conditions and improving personal capabilities and mobility is seeing great results for Moreton Bay residents.
Peta Stolz, a Kallangur resident, has benefited from the new Healthy Ageing Assessment and Rehabilitation Team (HAART) service at the Kallangur Satellite Community Health Centre.
“I previously had some surgery, followed by an episode of COVID and I wasn’t making the recovery that I would have expected,” she said.
“I was referred to HAART, where I was interviewed by the nurse, and then was able to access some specialist clinical and allied health disciplines or services.
“I received great care from the rehabilitation doctor, occupational therapist and physiotherapist. Each of then helped me in their own way, through pain relief, support with mobility and safety in the bathroom.
“I was able to improve physically due to the pain relief and their support. I am now enjoying things like gardening, visiting friends and doing my own shopping.
“The HAART service allowed me to get out and about and enjoy life far better than before.”
Community and Oral Health Allied Health Team Leader Leanne Carroll said Peta started a personal tailored eight-week program of rehabilitation and allied health support.
“The HAART service aims to support the ageing population in the region but also take pressure off our health system and give older persons another choice to access high quality care closer to home,” Leanne said.
“We provide rapid access to interdisciplinary care closer to home.”
The service provides rehabilitation care for patients 65-years and older (or older than 50 years for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people) with rapid assessment, care pathway planning and rehabilitation.
“A recent evaluation of service outcomes over a year showed that patients accessing the service have a 52 per cent likelihood of not representing to an emergency department up to three months post service,” Leanne said.
“The HAART service is for older people experiencing an aged-related health condition who would benefit from reconditioning or rehabilitation.
“We deliver one-on-one appointments and group therapy to promote healthy ageing, falls prevention, lifestyle improvements and pain management.”
In 2025, HAART services at Kallangur and Bribie Island supported more than 1,000 elderly patients get their life back on track and delivered thousands of personalised appointments.
“The older persons service is driven by a multidisciplinary team which includes clinicians with a special interest in rehabilitation and the health of older people,” Leanne said.
The team includes a rehabilitation medical specialist and a range of allied health professions including occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech pathology, social work, psychology, pharmacy and dietetics.
Referrals can be provided through Satellite Community Health Centres, local GPs, Post Acute Care Service and other hospital and community rehabilitation units in Metro North Health.
For more detail or more patient testimonials visit Healthy Ageing Assessment and Rehabilitation Team (HAART) | Metro North Health.