... by investing in aged care
Lucia, who has dementia but is otherwise fit and healthy, lives in an aged care home and has a fall which opens a gash in her leg.
Rather than being sent to an emergency department for attention, her GP visits the aged care home and determines there is no fracture.
A nurse visits regularly to treat Lucia's wound.
Improving consumer focus and protection
The Government will invest:
- $37 million over four years to assist older Australians to more easily access information and assessment for aged care services, through aged care one‑stop shops; and
- $72 million over four years to strengthen the Aged Care Complaints Investigation Scheme and enhance regulation of Aged Care Accommodation Bonds.
Planning for the future
To set out the path for further structural reforms and ensure that the aged care sector is equipped to meet the challenges of tomorrow, the Government has requested the Productivity Commission to undertake a public inquiry into aged care services. The Commission is due to report in April 2011.
In addition, to better plan for aged care workforce needs into the future, the Government will:
- invest $128 million over four years to help attract and retain nurses in the aged care sector; and
- explore the regulation of personal care workers to provide a basis to consider registration as part of the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme.
