AUSTRALIA | COTA has outlined why My Aged Care has failed older Australians, labelling it too hard to navigate and too hard to access for many seniors.
An urgent overhaul of My Aged Care is needed, following the Inspector General’s report which shows it is still too hard to find, too hard to navigate, and too hard to access for many older Australians, Council on the Ageing Australia (COTA) said.
COTA Australia backs all recommendations in the report, stating that its calls to improve awareness of the website, alongside accessibility and equitability issues are critical.
“These are fundamental fixes,” Sparrow said.
“They’re not complicated, and older people need to be able to easily access and get the information they need from My Aged Care. ”
“The report confirms what older Australians have been telling COTA for a while,” she said. We acknowledge that Government has made some improvements to the system but it is clear that much more needs to be done.”
“My Aged Care is meant to make accessing care straightforward, but for many older people it just isn’t working. It leaves them frustrated, confused and unable to get the support they need when they need it.”
In responding to the review COTA Australia undertook a survey so that the voices of those older people and their families who use My Aged Care would be clearly heard.
The survey found that only 34 percent of respondents found the website helpful, and just 17 percent were able to locate all the information they needed to make critical decisions about their care.
“A critical survey finding, that has been picked up by the Inspector-General, is that many older Australians want and need to speak to a person who can guide them through the system ,” Sparrow said.
“Its even harder for people with visual or hearing impairments, alongside, people with limited mobility or cognitive decline, or people who come from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
“Older Australians deserve a system that is welcoming, accessible and equitable. This means more in-person support, clearer information, simpler processes and a workforce that is equipped to meet diverse needs.
“Government must ensure that the front door to the aged care system works for everyone, no matter where they live or their background.”
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