Grattan Institute points to three aged care priorities to be addressed in the Budget – including a ‘rescue package’ to lift standards in poor-performing operators

The independent thinktank has outlined three key areas for the Federal Government to target funding in next Tuesday’s Budget update.

This aged care “trifecta” should include expansion in home care, greater transparency, and a rescue package with the goal of a “dramatically different aged care system which is more attuned to supporting the rights of older Australians,” according to authors Stephen Duckett, the Director of its Health Program, Anika Stobart and Hal Swerissen, an Emeritus Professor at La Trobe University and Grattan Institute Fellow who has previously given evidence to the Royal Commission.

1. A right to home support

In addition to more funding to cut the 102,000-strong wait list, the trio say money should be directed towards reducing administrative costs and re-designing the system to avoid the growing levels of unspent funds.

“The maximum amount of care hours able to be provided in the highest-level home care package should be increased,” they add. “This would enable more people to stay at home rather than be admitted to residential care."

Improved accreditation of home care providers would also weed out ‘bad’ operators, they say.

2. Increase transparency and accountability

Lifting the “veil of secrecy” on residential care quality should also be prioritised, the authors argue.

This includes better information about staffing levels and clinical outcomes i.e. a star rating system.

3. A rescue package for residential aged care

Finally, they recommend the Government set up a $1 billion rescue fund to lift standards in the facilities with the lowest standards with a 31 December 2020 deadline to produce a six-month recovery plan to improve by mid-2021.

“The rescue fund should be used to make sure the plans are implemented,” they add. “Access to the fund should be tightly scrutinised so the money goes to upgrading staffing, and not to greater profits for wealthy owners.”

The ideas are not dissimilar to what has been proposed by the Counsel Assisting during the Royal Commission.

The question is: will the Government consider these to be the areas that should be targeted?

Home care is almost certainly due for a top-up – but with COVID still dominating the news, the issues of workforce and regulation would seem to be higher on the agenda.

We will find out next week.