Better quality, choice and dignity for older Australians who need care is now at risk after legislation enabling reform to start on 1 July was not put to the vote in the House of Representatives this week.
COTA’s Chief Executive Ian Yates said he had written to the Prime Minister to urge her to deliver on the government’s Living Longer, Living Better aged care reform commitments to reshape aged care in Australia.
“The reforms due to begin on 1 July are critical to improving the lives of older people now and in the future,” Mr Yates said.
“These reforms will ensure more people are cared for in their own homes – which is what most older people prefer – rather than being moved into residential care away from friends and family.
“They will allow also give older people more say in the types of care and support they receive, how and when their services are delivered, and who provides them.
“Aged care providers will receive greater levels of funding for accommodation and care with higher accommodation subsidies and allowable fees, the ability to receive lump sum bonds for residents in high care, extra levels of home-care packages, and supplements for conditions like dementia”
“Overall these reforms are the first step towards a fairer and more sustainable aged care system which it is essential we get to given the ageing of our population.”
Mr Yates said the legislation must be passed before 27 June because that is the last sitting day before the election and many changes are scheduled for 1 July.
“The government announced these changes in April last year with a start date of 1 July 2013.
“The whole sector has been gearing up on this basis and providers have applied for new residential beds and home care packages in the latest Aged Care Approvals Round (ACAR) based on the new policies and higher charges being in place.
“The ACAR will fall over if the reforms are not passed, resulting in a greater shortage of home care and residential beds.
“Other reforms include the new Aged Care Gateway that will solve the problems of accessing aged care – currently described as negotiating a maze blindfolded – and the introduction of new measures of care quality.
“Because the Bills did not pass the House as scheduled this week means we now have a very tight window for the legislation to pass through a Senate Committee Inquiry and both houses by 27 June.
“The Government must guarantee it will not drop the ball on these reforms and they are dealt with as the highest priority in the Budget session.”
Media contact: Ian Yates 0418 835 439, Olivia Greentree 0439 411 774