Final report of the Aged Care Taskforce
Uncertainty lingering regarding the Government’s stance on potential changes to aged care financing
On 12 March 2024, Aged Care Minister Anika Wells publicly released the Final report of the Aged Care Taskforce. The Minister received the report in December 2023.
Despite the anticipation associated with this report and a floodgate of questions, the Australian public is still waiting for the government's response.
Aged Care Taskforce
The Taskforce was established to address funding arrangements and improve Australia's overall quality of aged care services. With 16 members representing various sectors, the task force conducted extensive consultations and deliberations to develop these recommendations. The overarching goal is to create a system that provides quality care, fosters innovation, and ensures financial viability.
The Final Report of the Aged Care Taskforce published this month outlines essential recommendations aimed at fostering sustainability, fairness, and innovation within the aged care sector.
The Need for Change:
The Taskforce discusses how it recognises the evolving landscape of aged care, driven by demographic shifts and changing expectations. With the population aging rapidly, demand for aged care services is expected to surge. We, however, know this from the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety which also highlighted significant quality issues and workforce shortages, necessitating substantial reforms.
Key Recommendations:
The publication of recommendations is sixty-four pages long, but in short, the key recommendations made are about:
- Sustainable Funding: The Taskforce emphasises the importance of sustainable funding arrangements to meet future demand and enhance service quality. This includes implementing fair and equitable means assessments for older individuals and introducing participant contributions for home care services.
- Residential Aged Care: Reforms in pricing and funding structures for accommodation costs in residential aged care are recommended, including the phasing out of Refundable Accommodation Deposits (RADs). Predictable funding models are proposed to ensure the financial viability of residential care providers.
- Home Care: Greater clarity in home care services, with clearly defined inclusion and exclusion principles, is advised to benefit both participants and providers. Additionally, the Taskforce underscores the need for ongoing government support in underserved markets.
- Innovation: Funding and contribution approaches should be designed to encourage innovation in care delivery, ensuring the sector can adapt to evolving needs and expectations.
What next?
At this stage, nothing concrete has been announced in response to the report. The recommendations put forth by the Aged Care Taskforce offer a holistic approach to addressing the challenges facing Australia's aged care system.
Hopefully, in the coming months, we will hear more from the relevant minister about their plans. I hope there is a significant shift to support a positive change in the delivery of high-quality care and support for innovation.
Reference: https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/final-report-of-the-aged-care-taskforce?language=en