Government Doesn’t Recognise Aged Care Funding Crisis

Election 2010

Major church groups call for a ten year plan to overcome poverty. 20 August

UnitingCare's Election Report Card released. 19 August

Both Major Parties fall short on Social Policy Commitments. 19 August

A report card on Aged Care election promises. 18 August

UnitingCare Australia applauds the Greens in calling for a Children's Commissioner. 17 August

Coalition's Job Commitment Bonus not the answer to tackling Long-term Unemployment. 17 August

New lease of life for social services welcome. 9 August

Greens aged care policy offers action and vision. 8 August

Help for vulnerable teenagers welcome. 2 August

UnitingCare Australia launches Key Social Policy Priorities for the 2010 Federal Election at Parliament House. 2 August

Compulsory widespread income management will not address disadvantage. 28 July

Major church groups seek action on community mental health. 21 July

Draft Child Protection Standards welcome but independent National Children's Commissioner needed. 7 July

Time for Action on Gambling. 23 June

Vulnerable Australians miss out because of red tape. 31 May

Budget 2010: Election is now the best chance for the Government to deliver on its Social Inclusion Agenda. 11 May

2010 Budget priorities for action. 10 May

UnitingCare Australia calls for Ministerial Taskforce following Henry Review. 2 May

Government Doesn’t Recognise Aged Care Funding Crisis

UnitingCare Media Release

26 June 2009

The Australian Government, through the Minister for Ageing Justine Elliot, has demonstrated a fundamental lack of understanding of the challenges facing Australia as a result of long term neglect of capital financing of residential aged care.

Uniting Aged Care Victoria.Tasmania notified the community today of its reluctant decision to close two residential care facilities, because of a lack of access to capital to finance the necessary renewal and upgrading of facilities.

National Director of UnitingCare Australia, Lin Hatfield Dodds, said today: “These two facilities are closing in Victoria because the current funding arrangements for high care residential facilities do not include adequate support for renewal or up-grading of buildings. On top of this, current policy settings prohibit older people from contributing adequate amounts in flexible ways towards the true cost of building and upgrading the high care facilities they need at a very vulnerable time in their lives.

“This issue is not confined to Victoria and Tasmania. Across Australia beds are being closed, bed licenses are being handed back and less organisations are applying for new beds. This year alone BlueCare in Queensland has handed back 200 high care bed licences.

“The Minister doesn’t see that this closure and handing back of beds is further evidence that the aged care system is in crisis. A crisis recognised by the Grant Thornton survey, other industry studies, the Productivity Commission, the National Health and Hospital Reform Commission and most recently by the Senate Inquiry into Residential and Community Aged Care in Australia. We can only assume the Minister is wrongly advised on this matter.

“UnitingCare has a long and proud history of working in partnership with communities and governments across Australia. We are committed to being there with older people and their families when they need support or access to services. In some communities in remote and regional Australia, we are the only organisation that is providing residential care services. The Government has often asked UnitingCare agencies to take on services that are at risk of closing because we are recognised for our high quality services and commitment to service continuity.

“It is disappointing that a government so committed to a fair go, presented with all of the evidence doesn’t want to acknowledge the fragile state of aged care services across Australia. I call on the Minister to engage with the industry on these serious funding issues” Ms Hatfield Dodds concluded.

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You can download the pdf version of the media release here.