Outcomes from the Aged Care Review

Author: Hogan, Warren P

Source: Australasian Journal on Ageing, Volume 26, Number 3, September 2007 , pp. 104-108(5)

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Abstract:

This contribution is about the outcomes from the 2004 report of the review into aged care. The main interest is in the policy responses announced in a policy statement on Sunday, 11 February 2007. There were three elements to the announcement: domiciliary care initiatives involving a relatively greater emphasis on this form of care compared with residential care, a new funding mechanism for residential care and new measures to foster expansion of facilities in ordinary high care. The last-mentioned drew immediate challenges because of `unintended impacts' of the policy decisions. The unwillingness of the Australian Government to allow use of accommodation bonds in ordinary high care was to be compensated by these measures, but the provisions are grossly inadequate while they have had deleterious consequences for low care.

The intention had been to bring to an end the discussions flowing from the Aged Care Review. Yet, strategic issues bearing upon the implementation of policies to secure efficiencies and quality outcomes in aged care have not been addressed. Issues about future directions in aged care all too familiar in 2002, when the review was inaugurated, remain to be addressed.

Keywords: competition; efficiency; regulation; residential aged care

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-6612.2007.00232.x

Publication date: 2007-09-01