Consumer groups outline 10 key points for the future of aged care in Australia
23 September 2020
An alliance of aged care consumer and carer groups today outlined their shared vision for aged care.
It comes at a time when the aged care system has never been under such intense scrutiny and pressure. Failures have been exposed during the COVID-19 pandemic and through the Aged Care Royal Commission, which this week concluded its last scheduled hearings.
The alliance includes Carers Australia, COTA Australia, Dementia Australia, the Federation of Ethnic Communities Council of Australia, National Seniors Australia and the Older Persons Advocacy Network.
The 10 shared principles will help all older Australians get the support they choose, when and where they need it and be treated with dignity and respect, by an aged care workforce that is trained and equipped to provide the standard of care older Australians and their families expect and deserve.
The full statement is available here and can be summarised as including:
- A better Aged Care Act.
- A simple system where care is guaranteed within 30 days.
- Full transparency and easy to understand indicators to help inform consumer choice.
- A trained, registered and qualified workforce.
- Proper recognition and support for the role of unpaid family/friend carers.
- Easy to understand information and local solutions.
- A strongly resourced regulator that takes robust action to ensure consumer protections.
- Services that are inclusive, culturally safe and sensitive.
- A funding model that ensures sufficient taxpayer funding, control by consumers over their funding, independent pricing and transparency in how funds are spent.
- Better integration of other health and wellbeing services with aged care.