Aged care action needed now!
Ahead of the Federal Election on 18 May, I wrote to ask all candidates in our regions not to wait until the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety is completed to take action on the changes required in aged care.
It seems extraordinary that as of the time of writing, neither the Coalition or ALP have made a major election platform commitment to the significant challenges facing the aged care sector. Such neglect must be challenged.
Resthaven supports the peak body, Aged and Community Services Australia’s call for commitment to the needs of vulnerable older individuals now, not in 12 or 18 month’s time.
Specifically, Resthaven seeks commitments in the 2019 election to:
- Resolve the excessively long wait list of 128,000 individuals assessed by the Government as needing Home Care Package services that they are not yet receiving; ensure a person in need of high care does not wait more than three months to receive a package; and fast track 40,000 extra level 3 and 4 Home Care Packages (in 2019-20 and in addition to projected increases in the budget) to reduce the backlog in waiting lists that is forcing people prematurely into hospital or residential care.
- Extend the short-term 9.5% funding injection into residential care, tied to investing in staffing, training and other workforce matters based on local and organisational needs, until the Royal Commission’s broader recommendations can be implemented.
- Keep rural and regional Australians in their communities by increasing the rural and remote supplement by $10 per day.
- Address the oral health crisis in aged care with MBS provider numbers for dental hygienists or oral health therapists to prevent dental issues progressing into more serious medical issues.
- Bring forward the 30% increase to the homeless supplement so that it is fully realised in 2019/2020.
It is imperative to ensure that aged care is a respected work place that values the contributions of those thousands of employees, volunteers and carers who make a real difference every day into the quality of life of older Australians.
I invited them to contact me to discuss their party’s position in ensuring vulnerable older individuals are given the support they rightly deserve.