Crisis Looming in Aged Care Services, Says Productivity Commission

By Nicola Berkovic, The Australian

September 26, 2008

Australia

Demand for aged care services will rocket over the next 40 years, with the number of Australians aged over 85 set to increase fourfold.

And in a report released yesterday, the Productivity Commission warns of a looming crisis in service provision. 

The report reveals the number of people aged over 85 -- those most likely to use aged care services -- will increase from about 400,000 to 1.6million in 2047, and that changing patterns of diseases will increase the number of frail older people with complex care needs. 

Increased diversity among elderly Australians, including differences in backgrounds, preferences and wealth, is also set to pose new challenges to the sorts of services on offer. 

To cope with the increase in demand, the commission said the aged care workforce would need to be dramatically increased. It said remuneration was a key issue in retaining aged care workers, who generally earned at least 10 per cent less than acute care workers. 

It would cost about $450million a year to pay aged care workers the same as acute care workers. 

The commission said greater investment in training and education programs was needed to build a sustainable and competent workforce. 

This year, 18 per cent of students who were eligible and wanted to study nursing were not offered a place in undergraduate courses, it revealed. 

The report's release came as a new parliamentary inquiry into the adequacy of aged and community care facilities was launched. The Senate's economics committee will look at funding, planning, allocation and equity of residential and community aged care. 

It will pay particular attention to whether current funding levels are meeting expected service provision outcomes. 

The inquiry follows a spate of allegations about sub-standard care in nursing homes. 

Five Victorian nursing homes in the past two months have been slapped with sanctions for failing to comply with standards. 

The federal Government this week ordered residents of Rosden Private Nursing Home, in Burwood East, to move to other facilities, after an audit found there was a "serious risk" to their health, safety and wellbeing. 

It found the facility failed to provide residents with sufficient space or privacy, while toilet, shower and bathroom facilities were inadequate. The conditions inside the home were found to be filthy, many choking hazards existed, chemicals were found to be stored unsafely, and security was ineffective. 

Last month, the federal Government put Brighton Aged Care facility in Adelaide on notice after an audit raised concerns about neglect of its residents.
 
The audit found the 71-bed home was not complying with 14 of 44 basic accreditation standards, including the health, personal care and lifestyle of residents. 

The committee, which must report by April next year, will also look at discrepancies in the cost of aged care. 

Copyright © Global Action on Aging
Terms of Use  |  Privacy Policy  |  Contact Us