Lack of info on private aged care

A Queensland aged care provider is concerned about the lack of information about private aged care on the Australian government website, www.myagedcare.gov.au.

The My Aged Care website has been established by the federal government to help people navigate the aged care system.

“The gateway is part of the 10 year Living Longer Living Better aged care reform package which was designed to give people more choice, more control and easier access to a full range of aged care services,” it says.

Tall Trees Care Communities cofounder, Phil Usher, says under its definition, the website is not disclosing the full range of options to Australian seniors and their families. 

“Seniors are not being fully informed of their options when it’s time to consider future living arrangements,” Mr Usher says.

“The $3.7 billion package devoted to this reform is not giving older people more choice when their apparent “full range of aged care services” is restricted to government operated providers alone.

“Private aged care providers should be listed on government websites as an aged care service, just as private and public schools are all listed together. It’s that simple.”

Mr Usher adds in terms of residential aged care, this makes Tall Trees equally accountable as government providers listed on the My Aged Care website.

“We are bound by the Retirement Villages Act 1999, and all nursing staff are accredited and abide by the necessary Acts associated with working in aged care,” Mr Usher says.

“Furthermore a number of private aged care providers, including Tall Trees, incorporate the governmentfunded Commonwealth Home and Community Care (HACC) Program, which is both government regulated and legislated.

“If private providers are equally accountable they should be equally perceived on the government’s ‘full range of aged care services’.”

Mr Usher claims if the government is truly dedicated to providing reform in aged care and giving more choice, it will begin placing all aged care providers on the same page to be fairly compared.

“Without being informed of the bigger picture of what’s available, seniors are being forced to move into a facility that isn’t completely suitable for their situation but they believe they’re left with no other option,” Mr Usher says.

“It’s only fair to list all options for seniors, whether government or private aged care, to ensure all options have been considered or explored at such a crossroad in their life.”