$140 million for aged care
Aged care providers will receive an annual funding boost of more than $140 million through the annual indexation of the care subsidies paid by the Australian Government to residential, community and flexible care services, as of 1 July 2010.
Care subsidies will increase by an average of 1.7%, increasing residential aged care subsidies and supplements by around $120 million a year, and community and flexible care subsidies by about $20 million a year.
The announced was made by the Minister of Ageing’s office in a media release.
In 2010-11, expenditure on aged care services will increase to more than $10.7 billion, an increase of nearly 9% over the previous year and nearly 30% under the Rudd Government.
Over the next four years, Commonwealth subsidies and personal contributions from residents will average more than $72,000 each for residents of aged care facilities. Over this period, the Government will provide more than $47 billion in direct financial support.
Through the National Health and Hospitals Network, the Rudd Government is reforming Australia’s aged care system to build a nationally consistent aged care system with more aged care places, one-stop shops to provide information and assessment, a more highly trained workforce, improved access to GP and primary health services and greater protections for older people in care.
