Warning On Aged Care Funding
22 June 2012 at 5:47 pm
UnitingCare Australia said that the changes in aged care funding by the Federal Government will reduce the ability of aged care providers to provide quality care to older Australians.
Under the new funding arrangements, to start next month, facilities will lose funding over the next two years and anticipated funding to meet essential increases in staff wages applying from 1 July 2012 will no longer be available, according to UnitingCare.
If the anticipated loss is not offset by other measures, staff numbers will be reduced and care will be affected.
“We are especially concerned about the impact of changes on disadvantaged older people who need specialised services, including older people with mental health conditions, older indigenous people, older people who have been homeless, and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds”, they said.
Services in regional and remote communities will also be particularly vulnerable to the changes.
UnitingCare Australia says it will continue to work with the Government, with the National Aged Care Alliance and others to negotiate a solution to ensure no older Australian misses out on the care they deserve as a result of these changes.
