Recommendations
Recommendation 1
3.6 The committee recommends the establishment
of a national aged care forum, reporting directly to the Minister for Health
and Ageing and coordinated by the Department of Health and Ageing, to consider,
on an on-going basis, current and future challenges to the aged care sector.
Recommendation 2
3.7 The committee recommends that the national
aged care forum establish a taskforce (or equivalent body) representative of
all involved aged care stakeholders including clients to action and where
possible implement determinations of the national forum.
Recommendation 3
3.12 The committee recommends that the Department
of Health and Ageing, in cooperation with the suggested taskforce and in
partnership with all involved stakeholders including clients, undertake an
all-encompassing review of the Aged Care Act 1997 and related
regulations. The review should:
-
equally examine the provision of residential and community aged
care services in Australia with consideration of both current and future
challenges in the provision of aged care services;
-
provide future projections to enable both short and
longer-term sectoral planning.
Recommendation 4
3.24 The committee recommends that the Department
of Health and Ageing in association with the suggested taskforce and in
consultation with all aged care stakeholders including clients undertake
analysis to establish benchmark of care costs.
Recommendation 5
3.30 The committee recommends that the Department of
Health and Ageing recommence publication of Audited General Purpose Financial
Reports as soon practicable and continue to publish such reports annually as a
matter of course.
Recommendation 6
3.31 The committee recommends that the Department of
Health and Ageing review the Audited General Purpose Financial Reports with an
aim to identifying any necessary reporting changes to ensure that the
information available provides a clear and comparative understanding of
provider performance.
Recommendation 7
3.39 The committee recommends the establishment of a
nationally consistent methodological approach to data gathering and research on
the financial status of the residential and community aged care sector. Towards
this goal, the committee recommends the establishment of a roundtable of key
stakeholders engaged in such research and facilitated by the Department of
Health and Ageing to discuss and agree upon common indicators and definitions
to enable comparative analysis.
Recommendation 8
3.44 The committee recommends that the Department of
Health and Ageing in association with the suggested taskforce (or equivalent
body) and in collaboration with the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
review and address deficiencies in information in the aged care sector.
Recommendation 9
4.59 The committee recommends that the Department of
Health and Ageing undertake a 'stress test' of the aged care sector in order to
measure the sector's financial wellbeing.
Recommendation 10
4.78 The committee recommends that the Department of
Health and Ageing, in association with the suggested taskforce, undertake a
review:
-
to identify the costs and resources required to meet new
regulation, accreditation and compliance measures with a view to rationalising
the administrative processes as required; and
-
to identify more cost effective means of meeting the requirements
of the compliance framework.
Recommendation 11
4.79 The committee recommends that the Department of
Health and Ageing implement measures, including additional funding, to assist
smaller providers to meet the requirements of the compliance framework.
Recommendation 12
4.98 The committee recommends that the issue of
professional nursing and other aged care staffing requirements be considered in
the overarching review of the aged care sector.
Recommendation 13
4.113 The committee recommends that the Department of
Health and Ageing, in association with the suggested taskforce, review aged
care staffing challenges and identify methods of address, with particular focus
on staffing requirements in rural and remote areas.
Recommendation 14
5.49 The committee recommends that the taskforce
undertake a review of the indexation formula used for the aged care sector in
order to identify its adequacy in relation to costs faced by the sector and to
identify modifications to the formula if required.
5.50 The committee further recommends that consideration
be given to an independent mechanism to continually assess the indexation
formula.
Recommendation 15
6.40 The committee recommends that the all-encompassing
review specifically consider the provision of aged care services in rural and
remote areas and the effectiveness of the current viability supplement to
support service provision.
Recommendation 16
6.43 The committee recommends that the Commonwealth and
Norfolk Island Government initiate discussions in relation to a proposal to
develop homecare services on Norfolk Island.
Recommendation 17
6.48 The committee recommends that the all-encompassing review
specifically consider and address the expectations and needs of persons from
non-English speaking backgrounds.
Recommendation 18
6.60 The committee recommends that the Department of
Health and Ageing conduct a review into the implications of 'elderly homeless'
incorporated as a special needs category under the Aged Care Act 1997.
Recommendation 19
6.61 The committee recommends that the suggested
all-encompassing aged care review specifically consider and address the expectations
and needs of the homeless and other socio-economically disadvantaged persons.
Recommendation 20
6.71 The committee recommends that the suggested
all-encompassing aged care review specifically consider and address the
expectations and needs of elderly Indigenous Australians and their communities.
Recommendation 21
6.72 The committee recommends that the Department of
Health and Ageing consider further initiatives to attract
culturally-appropriate staff in consultation with involved stakeholders
including Indigenous clients.
Recommendation 22
7.44 The committee recommends that the Australian
Government implement the recommendation of the 2007 National Review of Aged
Care Assessment Teams and review the legislative requirement for re-assessment
of those residents:
-
moving from low to high care within an aged care complex where
the low and high care facilities have separate provider numbers;
-
entering an aged care facility with a low care approval but who
require high care.
Recommendation 23
7.51 In light of disparities in information regarding the
Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) assessments and re-assessments between the
Department of Health and Ageing and involved providers, the committee
recommends that the department launch an information campaign on recent reforms
to the ACAT.
Recommendation 24
7.60 The committee recommends that the Department of
Health and Ageing review methods directed to affirming the ACAT as a single
nationally consistent program which genuinely serves as a single entry point to
aged care services. The review should entail dialogue with aged care clients
and providers as well as liaison with state and territory health departments.
Recommendation 25
7.61 The committee recommends that the Department of
Health and Ageing conduct a national education campaign directed at new and
potential aged care clients to raise awareness of the aged care services
available to them including the role of ACAT and of their rights and
entitlements in relation to such services.
Recommendation 26
7.94 The committee recommends that the Department of
Health and Ageing analyse decoupling of residential care and accommodation.
Such a review should consider and assess the views, concerns and
recommendations of involved stakeholders including the Productivity Commission.
Recommendation 27
7.112 The committee recommends that the Australian
Government expand community aged care funding and services to meet growing
demand and expected quality service provision outcomes.
Recommendation 28
7.122 The committee recommends that the all-encompassing
review of the residential and community aged care sector take a client-based
approach in order to ensure that its findings are client focused.
Recommendation 29
7.129 The committee recommends that the all-encompassing
review of the aged care sector consider options to enable greater flexibility
in relation to payments and services directed at providing a client-centred
aged care system for Australia.
Recommendation 30
8.43 The committee recommends that the suggested
taskforce undertake a review of the current planning ratio for community, high-
and low-care places. Drawing on all available demographic and social
information, the review is an opportunity to assess the planning ratio in light
of growing and diverse demand on aged care services.
Recommendation 31
8.44 The committee recommends that the suggested
taskforce review continuity of care as a potential long term solution for the
aged care sector.
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