Peak body welcomes aged care service delivery recommendations

Ageing Australia has welcomed the release of the Community Affairs References Committee’s ‘Aged care service delivery’ report and its recommendations for improving access to Support at Home services.

“The recommendation to end the rationing of home care packages is particularly welcome. People should be able to access care as they need it and when they need it,” Ageing Australia CEO Tom Symondson said.

“Revelations more than 200,000 older people are either waiting for home care packages, or waiting just to be assessed, were alarming. Clearing the wait list and ending the rationing of care packages is a priority.”

The report, Ageing Australia said, also warned that — ahead of the 1 November start of the new Aged Care Act on — the introduction of new ICT systems continues to be a risk for both government and providers.

“We know how much work has been done since the delay of the Act,” Symondson said. “Making sure it works is a top priority for everyone, to ensure older Australians enjoy seamless care.”

Ageing Australia also said that the concept of a Single Assessment System is a positive step forward, and that the sector welcomed its introduction. Yet it added that, with the large waiting list just to be assessed, clearly further work is needed before it’s fit for purpose.

“We know that aged care reforms will not be perfect on day one of the new Act, and it’s important that we keep striving for improvements to our systems,” Symondson said.

You can read the report here, via the Parliament of Australia website.

Image credit: iStock.com/Paperkites