Source: The Sydney Morning Herald

The Queensland and federal governments have reached a deal which from mid-2010 will pump $1.2 billion into elderly and disabled care services over three years.

Home and Community Care (HACC) services delivered help at home, meals on wheels and community transport to more than 159,000 Queenslanders last financial year.

Federal Ageing Minister Justine Elliot and Queensland Disability Services Minister Lindy Nelson-Carr on Friday announced HACC organisations would receive the new funding by the 2010-11 financial year.

Ms Elliot said the record funding would increase services for vulnerable Queenslanders.

"The HACC program provides many services to assist with daily activities that most people take for granted, such as domestic chores, help with dressing and grooming and access to the community," she said.

"For frail older people or other people with a disability these tasks can be challenging.

"This assistance will allow people to continue to live their daily lives with friends and family with dignity."

Ms Nelson-Carr said the funding corresponded with the rising number of frail aged people and young people with disabilities who were receiving HACC services.

"The new triennial funding ... will enable the organisations help more Queenslanders stay in the comfort of their own homes for longer, instead of having to move into permanent care," she said.