AUSTRALIA | Ageing Australia has highlighted that it was a missed opportunity for the Government to include aged care in a new health funding boost.
Ageing Australia said it was disappointed that a golden opportunity had been missed for all governments to show they are prioritising older Australians in the National Health Reform Agreement.
Earlier in the month, the Commonwealth Government announced a new five-year, AUD 219.6 billion commitment to state and territory health systems. But conspicuously absent from the agreement was the previously reported AUD 2 billion intended to address the challenge of delayed discharge for older people from state hospitals.
“This was a rare opportunity for state and federal governments to work together to improve outcomes for the thousands of older Australians stuck in hospital for extended periods, but that opportunity has been missed,” Ageing Australia CEO Tom Symondson said.
“The growing number of long-stay older people in hospitals should have been a clear warning sign for the states and the Commonwealth that only concerted, joint efforts could improve the situation. This pressure will only increase, and addressing it will require action from all levels of government.”
He said the Commonwealth, states and territories need to work collaboratively with aged care providers and hospitals to deliver programs that will provide the support people need across the health and aged care systems.
The number of Australians aged over 65 will double in the next 40 years, and those over 85 will triple.
“Demand is growing faster every day. We must invest now. And yet last year we built about 800 aged care beds, a drop in the ocean compared to the 10,000 we should be building each and every year just to keep up with demand. We need to see substantial Commonwealth Government action on this,” he added.
“But more beds alone will not resolve this issue; many older people in hospitals need higher levels of care and support than a residential home can provide. That is where the states and territories must also play their role.”
Symondson said Western Australia was one example of how states can do their bit. The Cook Government has recently committed to a AUD 100 million Low Interest Loan Scheme to support providers to build beds for older people with lower means. And in Victoria, the state government has a long history of providing aged care services, particularly for those older people with higher levels of clinical need.
“Every government in Australia can choose to prioritise the needs of older people, and they must. Older Australians deserve nothing less.”
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