Recent News

Aged care an issue that won’t die

Source: The Daily Telegraph, 5 February 2012

John Howard tried – and failed – to introduce a user-pays scheme of accommodation bonds for nursing home care in Australia but the public backlash proved too hot.

The baby boomers were revolting. Despite the fact the industry was desperate for investment to fund new beds and upgrade facilities, the prospect of forcing the elderly to flog the family home _ and perhaps, more tellingly, the kids’ inheritance _  proved too big a hurdle.… Read more

Firewall bid on seniors’ assets

Source: Herald Sun, 5 February 2012

A REVERSE mortgage scheme that protects seniors against a fire sale of the family home to pay for aged care is being considered by the Gillard Government.

The reverse mortgage reforms could also be used by the Government to soften the blow of forcing seniors to pay a greater share of the true cost of high-care nursing home care – a key recommendation of last year’s Productivity Commission report into aged care.… Read more

Govt considers reverse mortgage scheme to fix aged care

Source: The Sunday Telegraph, 5 February 2012

A reverse mortgage scheme to protect seniors against a fire sale of the family home to pay for aged care is being considered by the government.

The reforms could also soften the blow of forcing seniors to pay a greater share of the true cost of high-level nursing home care – a key recommendation of last year’s Productivity Commission report into aged care.… Read more

Aged care in demand in Bendigo

Source: Bendigo Advertiser, 31 January 2012

A NATIONAL campaign is calling for an overhaul of the aged care system, as local Bendigo services continue to increase facilities to meet a growing demand for aged care places.

Health professionals, charitable organisations and unions joined forces to highlight their concern of an “imminent crisis in aged care”.

The coalition of 28 different consumer and health groups, known as the Council of the Ageing, say by 2050, 3.5 million Australians will need aged care services.… Read more

AGPN calls for aged care budget action

Source: Aged Care INsite, 30 January 2012

The Australian General Practice Network recently added its voice to the growing chorus calling for aged care reforms in the upcoming May Budget. In today’s Aged Care INsite, AGPN chair, Dr Emil Djakic, explains why.

The latest statistics indicate that in the next 40 years, the number of people aged over 85 is expected to quadruple.… Read more

Peak groups demand urgent aged care reform

Source: SeniorAU.com.au, 29 January 2012

A crisis in aged care is imminent unless a system designed for 1960s Australia is reformed now, the Federal Government has been warned.

Almost 30 peak consumer groups, providers, unions and health professionals across the country have joined forces to call for an urgent end to what they describe as stalled aged care reform.… Read more

Stakeholders concerned on progress of reforms

Source: Aged Care INsite, 12 January 2012

Since the release of the Productivity Commission’s report, the minister has been consulting with both industry and consumers. Darragh O Keeffe and Natasha Egan report on where things have progressed to.

Almost half of the respondents to a recent INsite news survey said they were not confident that the government would implement the reforms to aged care as put forward by the Productivity Commission.… Read more