Month: October 2018

More than 900 additional First Nations people in remote Australia will have access to residential and home aged care services close to family, home or country, thanks to Morrison Government funding.

The Government is providing $105.7 million to expand the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged Care (NATSIFAC) program – a 2018–19 Budget initiative.

Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care, Ken Wyatt AM, today announced the first round of expansion funding under this program – up to $46 million to increase the number of home care places delivered through the NATSIFAC program in remote and very remote areas.

Read more:

More Aged Care Places for First Australians (.pdf)

Prime Minister Scott Morrison yesterday announced the Terms of Reference for the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.

This follows more than 5,100 submissions received from aged care consumers, families, carers, aged care workers, health professionals and providers.

The Royal Commission is a vital step for Australia to determine the full extent of the problems in aged care and to understand how we can meet the challenges and the opportunities of delivering aged care services now and into the future. It is also about helping to build a national culture of respect for ageing and our senior Australians.

Read more:

Aged Care Royal Commission Terms of Reference

Our Government has recommended that the Governor General appoint the Honourable Justice Joseph McGrath and Lynelle Briggs AO as Royal Commissioners into Aged Care Quality and Safety.

Justice McGrath and Ms Briggs bring strong investigative skills and extensive experience in corporate and public sector governance to the Royal Commission.

Our Government wants to ensure Australians have access to the level of care and support each person would expect for themselves.

A key task of the Royal Commission will be to help build a national culture of respect for ageing and older Australians.

Following more than 5,000 submissions, four national roundtables and consultation with the medical and aged care professions, our Government has today also outlined the terms of reference for the Royal Commission.

Read more:

Appointment of Royal Commissioners and Terms of Reference

Terms of Reference

New care recipients are able to complete the income test form or means test form to help determine their aged care fees and accommodation costs before, or at the time, they enter care.

If care recipients don’t complete their income and/or assets information, they are classed as ‘means not disclosed’ and will be asked to pay the maximum income tested care fee (home care package) or maximum means-tested care fee and their agreed accommodation price (residential care).

Read more:

‘Means not disclosed’ in aged care