If you watched the Rudd/Abbott debate on Sunday night you would have noted that aged care was prominent. This is largely thanks to the work of ACSA. It is worthy to review ACSAs pitch being promoted by CEO Jon Kelly. Here is a summary.
The Labor Governments Living Longer Living Better (LLLB) aged care package has made a start on tackling this issue by lifting the number of aged care places (beds and home care) to 125 per 1,000 people aged 70 years and over by 2021. But, as the supply of aged care places is controlled by government, many who require care miss out or have a long period waiting for the care they need.
In order to ensure that older Australians are able to obtain quality aged care when and where they need it, in a system that is sustainable, ACSA recommends revisiting the recommendations of the Productivity Commission not included in the LLLB changes, as outlined below.
? A gradual removal of the current restrictions on the number and type of residential and community aged care services that providers may offer.
? A single integrated national system of care entitlements across residential and community aged care based on assessed needs, with flexibility for individuals to use their care entitlement at home, in an aged care home or other seniors housing options.
? A national network of physical Commonwealth managed Seniors Gateway Centres to enable face-to-face access to care assessment and information services for older Australians.
? Consistent care co contributions across residential and community care which balance reasonable individual responsibility, protection for those with without means and affordability for the taxpayer.
? An independent pricing commission to determine the true costs of care.
? Market accommodation prices for non-supported residents, with flexibility for residents to pay by daily accommodation payments or a fully refundable accommodation deposit.
? An independent inquiry to investigate options for simpler, fairer and more secure arrangements to facilitate consumer contributions to the cost of aged care by those who can afford to contribute to their care such as the Aged Care Home Credit Scheme or Age Pensioners Savings Account.
? Special funding arrangements for services in rural and remote areas and other special needs groups such as Indigenous communities and the homeless.
The Property Council has developed a number of policy issues. We will present those next week.
