Everything you need to know about in-home aged care reform
You might have seen the headlines in the news or heard it mentioned on the radio: the Australian Government is rolling out reforms to in-home aged care in Australia.
This article is sponsored content from Feros Care.
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Key points
- The changes aim to improve access to aged care services, better align services to individual needs, lower administration costs, and simplify the entire process.
- If you already receive aged care services, you will not lose your level of care.
- If you do not already receive aged care services but think you may need more support, you don’t need to wait until the reform has progressed.
The changes have been prompted by recommendations from the Royal Commission into Aged Care and will see some major changes in the way in-home aged care is delivered.
Aged care provider Feros Care have been preparing for these changes. They have put together an easy-to-understand guide to the reforms, which are also referred to by the government as ‘Support at Home’.
It may help to understand what has happened already and what to look for as the reforms are put in place.
October 2018 -The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety is established to inquire into the quality and safety of aged care in Australia.
March 2021 - The Royal Commission tables its final report in Parliament, calling for an overhaul to the aged care industry.
January 2022 - The Federal Government releases the overview and proposed program of the Support at Home Program, scheduled to start in July 2023.
January to July 2022 - The Department of Health and Aged Care conducts consultation activities with a range of stakeholders (including older Australians).
July 2022 - The original Support at Home Program start date is postponed by 12 months, to July 2024, to allow for more consultation.
August 2022 through to early 2024 - Australian Government to continue working with a range of stakeholders to ensure reforms achieve a better in-home aged care system (they have some consultations open right now for you to provide your feedback on the current system.
July 1, 2024 - Australian Government to deliver a reformed and improved in-home aged care program.
Feros Care have been helping older Australians live healthier, happier, better-connected lives since 1990. They are leaders in the industry and are committed to keeping Australians informed about the changes happening with in-home aged care. You can access their Reform Hub where you can find information about the reforms and sign up to their newsletter.
About Feros Care: What we care most about is helping people live healthier, happier, better-connected lives. Since 1990, we’ve been making it happen, both for older Australians and people with disability.
Our aged care and disability support services can help you in many ways. Whether you need home care, residential and respite care, some clever technology to make life easier, assistance in accessing community activities or one of our growing number of allied health and wellness solutions.
