Aged Care Roadmap, Aged Care Sector Committee released
Read the details of the Aged Care Roadmap
Why Australia needs an Aged Care Roadmap
Executive Summary
Planning for the Future at a Glance
How do consumers prepare for and engage with their aged care?
How are eligibility and care needs assessed?
How are consumers with different needs supported?
How do we make dementia care core business throughout the system?
What care is available?
Who provides care?
Who pays?
How will the formal and informal workforce be supported?
How will quality be achieved?
Executive Summary The Aged Care Roadmap sets out the path to a system where people are valued and respected, including their rights to choice, dignity, safety (physical, emotional and psychological) and quality of life. They (together with their families and carers) will have access to competent, affordable and timely care and support services through a consumer driven, market based, sustainable aged care system. Key features of this system are: Consumers, their families and carers are proactive in preparing for their future care needs and are empowered to do so Older Australians will be proactive, and will be encouraged and supported to have early conversations about when they may require care and support. They will understand what options are available and how to use their own resources to meet their care needs. A range of appropriate information and support services (including independent advocacy) will be made available by government to enable informed decision making regarding care options. A single government operated assessment process that is independent and free, and includes assessment of eligibility, care needs, means and maximum funding level Any older person may seek an aged care assessment, including those with the means to self-fund their care and support, to help them to make informed choices about their care. The assessment will consider time limited and ongoing needs, taking into account physical and medical needs, emotional wellbeing, existing formal/informal support arrangements and individual circumstances. An assessment process, independent of providers, will be an essential pre-requisite for older people to receive government support and the assessment will determine the level of government funding based on a person’s needs and their ability to fund their own care and support. Regardless of cultural or linguistic background, sexuality, life circumstance or location, consumers can access the care and support that they need Older people should be able to choose and access aged care, regardless of their individual circumstances, however they may require additional support to do so. Assessment of need will consider individual circumstances. Government-set core standards will require providers to treat all consumers with dignity and respect, not to discriminate, and to design services around the preferences and needs of individuals. There will be continued investment in improving providers’ capacity to meet the diverse needs of consumers, and monitoring of access patterns to identify and address barriers so consumers are able to access the care they need. The community is dementia aware and dementia care is integrated as core business throughout the aged care system Older people with dementia have the same rights as all other people, however they may require additional support to exercise choice and access services. Government and providers will continue to work together to ensure dementia care is evidence based and research is translated into improved dementia care and services in a timely way. Providers will have good dementia awareness and be able to identify and appropriately refer consumers requiring dementia support. A single aged care and support system that is market based and consumer driven, with access based on assessed need Aged care and support will be delivered based on consumer need. Consumers will be able to choose the setting (be it in a person’s home, in the community or in a residential setting) and the types of care and support they receive. Care and support will be available on an episodic, short term early intervention/restorative, and ongoing basis. Government will no longer regulate the number or distribution of services. The market will respond to consumer demand, however when it doesn’t or can’t respond, government will act as a safety net to ensure services are available and accessible to those in need. A single provider registration scheme that recognises organisations registered or accredited in similar systems, and that has a staged approach to registration depending on the scope of practice of the providers Providers will have greater flexibility and incentive to develop innovative and responsive services that respond to consumer needs and expectations. They will be registered to provide care and support, based on their scope of practice, and similar registration or participation in other accreditation systems will be recognised for particular categories of registration. Providers who wish to receive government contributions and list on My Aged Care must be a registered or recognised provider. Sustainable aged care sector financing arrangements where the market determines price, those that can contribute to their care do, and government acts as the ‘safety net’ and contributes when there is insufficient market response Consumers will be primarily responsible for their accommodation and everyday living costs, as they have been throughout their lives. Providers will determine how much they expect consumers to pay for their accommodation/everyday living, and care/support costs. Government will set and publish reasonable prices it will pay on behalf of consumers who cannot afford to fully meet their own costs. Consumers’ lump sum payments will be protected. A well-led, well-trained workforce that is adept at adjusting care to meet the needs of older Australians The aged care sector will be considered a desirable and rewarding place to work, with providers attracting and maintaining a well-led, flexible and responsive workforce. Unpaid carers and volunteers will continue to be supported and recognised as having an important role in caring for older people. Networks and partnerships between the aged care and other industries (education, research and employment) will boost supply, and the needs of care industries (aged care, health, disability and child care) will be considered in the development of government policies and programmes. Greater consumer choice drives quality and innovation, responsive providers and increased competition, supported by an agile and proportionate regulatory framework Consumer protections will include core standards, compliance and an independent complaints mechanism, with providers required to meet core standards based on their registration category and scope of practice. Government will have a more proportionate regulatory framework that gives providers freedom to be innovative, whilst ensuring a safety net for consumers. Platforms will exist for providers to market their services, including by demonstrating the quality of what they deliver beyond these consumer protections. Consumers will drive quality and innovation by exercising choice as to which provider/s they use.