Aged Care Royal Commission Report – What You Need to Know

The Aged Care Royal Commission Report was released on the 26th February 2021. While the report outlines 148 recommendations to transform aged care, the National Seniors Australia organisation has helpfully condensed the recommendations down to the following ten key features:

1. The universal right to quality care: At the centre of the Report is a call to end the rationing of care. The Commissioners want the Government to throw out the old Aged Care Act and to replace it with a “universal right to high quality, safe and timely support.”
2. Governance structures: This relates to the redesign of governance structures, either by way of a new independent Australian Aged Care Commission or by restructuring and strengthening the existing Department of Health.
3. Inspector-General of Aged Care: A third important recommendation is the creation of a new Office of the Inspector-General of Aged Care to monitor the implementation process and the governance system. This new body and role will be critical in policing the system to ensure problems are identified and quickly rectified.
4. Dementia care: The report recognises the need to put dementia care front and centre in any new system. With more than 50 per cent of aged care residents living with dementia, this move is vital. The call for compulsory dementia training is equally critical.
5. A co-ordinated system: The report also calls on Government to integrate each of the disparate parts of the system to create a new streamlined and coordinated model in which transition between service elements is much simpler and easier. This includes a single comprehensive assessment process.
6. Care finders: Commissioner Briggs has recommended introducing independent care finders, whose job will be to help older people, families and carers access services in their local community.
7. Home care packages: There is a call to remove the waiting list for Home Care Packages by the end of the year and for a maximum waiting time of one month from time of approval.
8. Funding boost: There is a call for increased funding for residential care in the short term to ensure adequate resources, and for the adoption of the new funding model to better allocate these precious resources.
9. New revenue: The commission has called for the introduction of a levy to raise the funds required to implement reforms.
10. Staffing: Probably the most important part of the report was the focus on staffing because staffing quality and quantity determines care outcomes. The Report recommends a national registration scheme for personal care workers (with minimum qualifications and requirements); an increase staff wages and remuneration to attract and retain quality staff; and mandated minimum staffing requirements in residential care (with staffing hours reported on a quarterly basis).

The Federal Government has until 31st May 2021 to respond to the Report but is expected to announce measures in the upcoming Federal Budget.

• Topics:

• Seniors