Aged care organisations still waiting for solution to funding crisis
The Budget has formalised the aged care arrangements promised in the ‘Securing the Future’ funding package announced on 11 February but both aged care peak organizations, ACSA and ACAA, agree that the aged care funding crisis has not been met in the Budget.
The chief executive officer (CEO) of Aged and Community Services Australia (ACSA), Greg Mundy, said that the Budget was ” a welcome short term boost” for aged care services but “it leaves much more to be done to ensure Australia’s aged care system is ready for the army of older people marching towards it”.
Mr.Mundy said that ACSA had called for aged care funding to be linked to the real costs of providing care and for user payments for accommodation to be linked to the cost of providing it with proper protection for those on low incomes. He said the measures provided in the budget, “while helpful in the short term, fall well short of this”.
But Mr.Mundy said that other Budget measures such as increased funding for culturally diverse services, secure employment for indigenous aged care workers, and the trialing of new respite models were all worthwhile initiatives. ACSA also welcomed more funding for continence aids, and home and nursing home visits by GPs.
Aged Care Association Australia (ACAA) CEO, Rod Young, said “he was pleased that the Government had listened to the industry and had provided additional funding to
address some of the “unintended consequences” that became apparent after the release of the ‘Securing the Future’ package.
“The reinstatement of two supplements that had been abolished in the new package in low care facilities and which would have meant a reduction in income for a number of aged care facilities is welcome,” he said.
“However, the industry …remains disappointed that Government has not listened to the
advice of Professor Warren Hogan and addressed what Hogan estimated to be a $6 billion funding shortfall by financial year 2022 unless the fundamentals of the current scheme are changed.
“The package announced in February though providing some positive changes does not address Hogan’s projected shortfall and unfortunately, nor does this budget,” said Mr Young.
