The Future of Home Care

As with most industries, consumer driven demand and choice are driving factors in building stronger foundations as well as creating innovation and excellence. As Australians continue to live longer and healthier lives, it is vital we have individual choice in our care as we age.

The Federal Government’s recent landmark reforms to home care in the 2015/2016 Budget will have a significant impact on Australian seniors.

And it is wonderful news – on all fronts.

From February 27, 2017, seniors will be given the power to choose their aged care provider and providers will have to compete for business instead of receiving a government allocation of home care packages.

The reforms are the result of the Productivity Commission’s 2011 inquiry, which found that the aged care system suffers key weaknesses, including a high regulatory burden, lack of timely access to care, and limited consumer choice.

The Increasing Choice in Home Care legislation is an important step in moving towards an aged care system which is more consumer-driven, market-based and less regulated.

Home care packages help older Australians living at home access a range of clinical care, personal and support services to assist with day-to-day activities.

For the average Australian senior, they will usher in a much fairer means of accessing aged care packages which are tailored to meet the individual’s needs and circumstances.

Seniors will be able to choose a provider that best meets their goals and needs and it will be easier for you to change providers, and funding for the package will follow the individual to their new provider.

The reforms will strengthen the aged care system to provide high quality and more innovative services, including:

• The launch of a new National Package Queue, which will reveal a consumer’s position in the queue for a home care package (based on the length of their wait since their assessment by an Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) and their priority of needs.)
• Launch of a New National Package Inventory which outlines all home care

Over the next two months, the Department of Social Services will be sending letters to seniors who currently receive home care services and to those waiting to be assessed by The My Aged Care gateway.

Additionally from July 2018, the Home Care Packages Program and the Commonwealth Home Support Program will be integrated into a single care at home program, simplifying the way services are delivered and funded to seniors.

As a business which has provided home care services for more than a decade, Oxley Home Care welcomes these new changes and looks forward to continuing to provide care with passion and respect.

By Guest Author: Gilian Douglass 

Gilian Douglass is a Director and General Manager of Oxley Home Care, a family owned and operated business which provides community home support to hundreds of aged and disability clients services throughout the Sydney Metro regions, enabling clients to remain living at home. Gilian, along with her husband Fraser started Oxley Home Care in 2006. Bringing her 30 years of Nursing experience with her, Gilian has been a key player in the growth and success of Oxley Home Care.

Oxley Home Care provides support services to Home Care Packages, Veteran, Private and Brokerage support to service providers throughout Sydney, now employing more than 220 staff.

With a Nursing background and a passion for Industry reform and choice for consumers, Gilian has been focussed on the key elements of consumer choice and control, innovative and efficient service provision and partnership in a rapid time of change.

Do you need help finding an aged care home or home care services?

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