After months of “extremely hard work,” providers say the aged care sector is ready for 1 November – even as a wave of late documentation tests their stamina.
In the month leading up to the new Aged Care Act, the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing has released more than 150 documents spanning thousands of pages – from fact sheets and tutorials to policy templates and posters. The Support at Home program accounts for about half again as much paperwork as residential aged care, underscoring the scale of reform.
“Given the volume of information, I doubt there’s an organisation in the country across every detail,” said Tim Humphries, CEO of Homestyle Aged Care, which operates ten homes across Melbourne and Geelong. “But we’re as ready as we can be.”
Homestyle is still waiting on an upgrade from their care management software provider, iCare, that will allow them to produce care statements.
Sydney-based Columbia Aged Care CEO Lucy O'Flaherty agreed, saying the Department’s communication was “too little, too late” but that her teams would be ready by Saturday. “We’re still doing comms based on this late information, but are comfortable everyone will be informed and ready for 1 November.”
Juniper CEO Russell Bricknell said the West Australian provider has become “accustomed to adapting quickly” but that the timing of key information “poses challenges for training and preparation.” He praised his team’s commitment but warned the “full impact” of digital system changes won’t be known for months.
NoosaCare CEO Grant Simpson added that the volume and timing of updates had “required close attention” from already stretched providers. “It’s been a significant undertaking... but we’re confident in our preparedness.”
Silverchain Executive Director, Aged Care, Carolyn Bell, said the home care provider is "well positioned" for 1 November. “The delayed release of materials from the Department throughout the later part of this year has been somewhat difficult to manage", she said, adding, "For many consumers the information available from the Department was not direct enough".
selectability, which provides residential aged care and home care services under the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged Care (NATSIFAC) Program, said they are ready to continue delivering services in the Lower Gulf region in northwestern Queensland, but are unsure when they will gain access to the Government's MAC Portal and GPSM IT systems. There have been gaps in communication about NATSIFAC. "We are still awaiting several important updates from the Department," they said.
Across the country, providers say they’re ready – and keen to move past the paperwork and get on with delivering care under the new regime.
