Older Australians

What does health reform mean for older Australians?

Older Australians, their families and carers deserve an aged care system they can rely on. Mostly, they can – but the system is being improved so that it works better.

For the first time, the Australian Government is taking full responsibility for aged care, covering basic home care through to nursing homes. It will be the sole funder of a nationally consistent aged care system.

Under the Heads of Agreement, signed on 13 February 2011, the Western Australian and Victorian governments will maintain existing arrangements for Home and Community Care (HACC) services. Negotiations are continuing between these governments and the Australian government on HACC services.

The Government is:

• delivering a nationally consistent aged care system,
• providing better access and information on the aged care system, and
• providing more aged care places and beds to ensure older people are cared for in the most appropriate way and not in hospitals when it is not necessary.

Working together, Medicare Locals, Local Hospitals Networks and the new front end of aged care will be developing pathways of care and referrals to assist older people move seamlessly between hospital care, care in the community and aged care services so that they can get the care they need when and where they need it.

As national health reform is implemented, access to aged care services and primary health care will be improved. There will be more sub-acute care beds and more aged care beds and more facilities will be built sooner. People in aged care will have improved access to GPs and primary care and there will be a better continuity of care as people move in and out of hospital. Assessment and access to aged care services will be simpler with a single point of entry into the system.

Older people living at home will have greater access to GP after hours services and Medicare Locals will work to identify health service gaps and assist service providers to fill those gaps, giving older people more access to the services they need within the community.

A comprehensive package of measures will also deliver support and professionalisation to the aged care workforce improving outcomes for both people receiving care and those delivering it.

Find out more about what the changes mean for communities, families and older Australians