With politicians already on the campaign trail before a date has been announced for this year's Federal election, The Weekly SOURCE is asking CEOs across the ageing sector what they want from the politicians now.
Byron Cannon, Chief Executive Officer of innovative private care provider LDK Seniors' Living, who is a speaker at the LEADERS SUMMIT in Sydney in March, wants to see the concept of Shared Care, advocated by the Property Council's Retirement Living Council, to become reality.
The Government, in its Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO) 2024-25, pledged more than $5 million over three years to trial "budget pooling", allowing retirement villages to combine residents' home care budgets.
"In the MYEFO update last year, the Treasurer announced funding for the trial of the Shared Care Framework, proposed by the Retirement Living Council (RLC). The fact that retirement villages (RVs) are the perfect place for higher levels of care is now broadly acknowledged and this is the perfect platform to gain traction. RVs present the best opportunity for improved outcomes, experiences and value for older Australians accessing care as well as reducing the burden on the system and saving the government money," said Byron.
The benefits include:
- Improved access to care;
- Achieving economies of scale due to co-location of residents in the one community, and pooling of funds;
- Reducing the burden on residential aged care (and government funding) as less people will need it, or by delaying entry;
- Higher quality of life, wellbeing and happiness due to the lifestyle activation in RVs. Loneliness is a global public health concern and RVs reduce this substantially;
- Reduce the burden on the healthcare system;
- Better staff engagement for home carers from reduced travel time and consistency with the people they care for; and
- Assist the housing crisis to free up homes when people move into RVs.
"Whilst the government has announced this initiative, I believe it should be prioritised given the wide benefits this can provide," Byron said.
Remove barriers for workforce attraction, retention and sustainability
The Department of Health and Aged Care told Coalition Senator Anne Ruston, Shadow Minister for Aged Care, in November last year the sector is estimated to be short 1,490 Registered Nurses in 2024-25, which was significantly lower than the 4,043 estimate the Department itself supplied only six months previously.
The Albanese Government's Aged Care Industry Labour Agreements were meant to allow aged care operators to sponsor more workers on visas. As of last August, there were 88 Aged Care Industry Labour Agreements (ACILA) in place and 1,273 visas approved under the program.
"Our overseas workers bring so much value to our businesses. Existing barriers to employ and retain these wonderful people should be removed as a priority," Byron said.
"I would really like to see a commitment from the government to ensure we can improve the attraction, retention of our workforce to enhance the sustainability of the industry."
Byron also said he will urge politicians to reduce the home care wait times.
In October last year, the Department revealed 76,000 older Australians are now waiting for home care. Minister for Aged Care and Sport, Anika Wells, now a Cabinet member, said in November last year the Government was releasing 107,000 Home Care Packages over the next two financial years (2025-26 and 2026-27).
"The government has a target of three months waiting, by 1 July 2027. There needs to be more urgency applied to this [home care waiting list], so that we don’t have people dying whilst waiting for funding to be allocated. Reports suggest that around 10,000 people die each year on the waitlist and this is disrespectful to our seniors. Providers have the capacity to provide the care and it is unfair that seniors have to wait this long," Byron said.
Look out next week for our second CEO political wish.
