With the introduction of Consumer Directed Care (CDC) there has been an increase in awareness of the importance of consumer choice and control at all points of the consumer and carer journey within the aged care system. COTA Australia’s Consumer Engagement in Aged Care (CEAC) project report (Phase 1) builds upon an understanding of the impacts of such reforms and highlights the need for services to engage consumers and their carers in system design, and service development and delivery.
The CEAC project utilised co-production techniques in Phase 1. These techniques have begun to identify, develop and adapt engagement tools and methods that will provide a platform for consumer engagement in the aged care sector.
This report contains three sections:
- The findings of the project which contain information gathered by COTA Australia on people’s experience of aged care services. Additional information and findings on the consultations and survey can be found in appendix 1 and 2.
- A literature review on engaging older people in experience based co-design which provides an overview of co-design and a discussion on the elements that must be addressed to implement co-design systemically within organisations.
- The National Aboriginal Community Control Health Organisation (NACCHO) report which investigated the understanding and experience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with Consumer Directed Care. While limited in scope, it provides valuable information about their experiences.
In an information rich era, consumers and carers are still struggling to get the information and support they need to access, navigate and engage with the aged care system. The information gathered in the consultations and survey demonstrates that more needs to be done to:
- Assist consumers and their families to navigate aged care.
- Ensure that consumers and carers have choice, flexibility and control.
- Enable consumers and carers to engage on a systemic level with service providers to improve services and delivery.