Sector, including Fronditha Care, welcomes bi-partisan deal on aged care reform
Source: NEOS KOSMOS
The country’s aged care system overhaul has received a green light this week with Labor and Coalition striking a deal on the Aged Care Act, under which wealthier Australians will fund more of their own care.
A long-awaited $5.6 billion package has passed through parliament, with a new Support at Home program – promising shorter wait times and more tailored support – being at the heart of the bill’s reforms.
An initial $4.3 billion is set to be channelled into the program as of July next year, marking the start of what the federal government says is the “greatest improvement to aged care in 30 years”.
“We’ve heard the message from older Australians: they want support to stay in the homes and communities they love,” said Aged Care Minister Anika Wells, signalling that the package would benefit about 1.4 million Australians and deliver more levels of support, and funding for home modifications.
“Older Australians will get support to spend their final weeks at home, surrounded by loved ones in an environment they cherish, instead of rushing precious moments into hospital visiting hours.”
The move has been welcomed by the sector, including within the Greek community, with CEO of Fronditha Care, Faye Spiteri, saying in a statement provided to Neos Kosmos:
“The increase in funding for home care services reflects a growing trend, as more individuals choose to age in place.
“At the same time, reforms to the funding model for residential care will ensure the sector’s long-term viability, as facilities prepare to meet future residents’ increased and more complex needs.”
Chief Executive of the Aged and Community Care Providers Association, Tom Symondson, says the changes will help a “sector on its knees”.
“We’re supposed to be building 10,000 new beds of residential care every year for the next 20 years, and we’re building none. We’re closing more than we’re opening. We’ve got people waiting over a year for home care, and many of those people, unfortunately, they either end up in hospital or in residential care sooner than they should, or they pass away before they can ever receive services.”
Fronditha Care congratulated minister Wells and ACCPA’s Symondson and his team for “their pivotal role in lobbying for the introduction of the Aged Care Bill 2024 to the Australian Parliament this week.”
“The announcement marks a significant step toward creating a more sustainable and equitable aged care system that truly prioritises people, elders, their families and staff.”
In a bid at cracking Australia’s intergenerational problem new aged care entrants will have to pay for increased means-tested contributions to help fully fund the growing cost of care.
The lifetime contribution cap will be raised from around $76,000 to $130,000, saving the taxpayer $12.6 billion over 11 years after an initial increase of $930 million over the first four.
Only people not already in aged care or receiving home care and who exceed a wealth or income threshold will have to pay higher contributions.
“Today, older people won a great victory,” said Craig Gear, Chief Executive of the Older Persons Advocacy Network.
But he noted his disappointment about criminal penalties for serious harm and neglect having been omitted from the final legislation, after a royal commission revealed appalling conditions in the sector.
The policy announcement comes in response to recommendations made by the Aged Care Task Force.
Meanwhile, Opposition finance spokeswoman Jane Hume said that while the financial framework agreement was “a good start”, the Coalition and the government would still need to negotiate on particular segments of Labor’s reforms, including a “workforce strategy” needed.
“We worked with them particularly on the financial framework that is part of this bill, but that is only one chapter,” Senator Hume told the ABC on Sunday.
“That is what was needed to bring this bill on so that it can then be subject to the normal scrutiny, stakeholders can have feedback and the Senate can do an inquiry and we can understand what all the implications are of this bill.”
Under the reforms, the government would remain the prime funder of aged care.
For every $1 a person in aged care contributes, the federal government will chip in $3.30 on average to residential care and $7.80 for home supports.
Aged care is one of the five biggest areas of government spending.
The original article: belongs to NEOS KOSMOS .
