Aged Care Reform
Older Australians want to see a simplified aged care system. They want consistent, high quality care for everyone regardless of financial position of individuals. And they believe that dignity, respect and choice should drive the system. This is what older people are telling COTA in our discussions on the future of aged care in Australia.
The Commonwealth Government has stated that it is committed to the reform of Aged Care. It backed this up in 2010 by referring it to the Productivity Commission to undertake a thorough inquiry and provide detailed options for restructuring Australia’s aged care system to ensure it can meet the challenges facing it in coming decades.
The Draft Report was released in December 2010. The final report was released by the Federal Government on 8 August. COTA Australia CEO, Ian Yates, welcomed the release of the report saying it lays a solid foundation for a better future for seniors. Click here for more. COTA’s Policy Alert provides an overview of what is in the report.
COTA Australia has been actively involved in the Productivity Commission process, participating in hearings and making submissions to the Commission. Our submissions can be found on our National website, and also the Productivity Commission website.
In April 2011 COTA Victoria held a forum on the Aged Care Reform. Presentations included
- COTA’s response to the Productivity Commission report, and
- Carer’s Victoria on the perspective of carers on the proposed reform.
See more information on the Forum.
Working with the Victorian Government
The focus of our work with the State Government is on achieving an Age Friendly Victoria. This means better design and planning of homes, health systems, workplaces and employment, towns and cities, transport, and training and education. It also means improving attitudes to older people. An Age Friendly community will benefit all people, not just older people. We will be healthier, more independent and continue to participate in our communities.
COTA calls on the Baillieu government to:
- Make ageing a policy priority, and
- Commit to action on key issues impacting on older Victorians now and into the future.
COTA’s Priorities for Action 2011-14 identifies these and other key actions and policy directions needed over the next four years.
COTA welcomes the Opportunitites for Participation of Victorian Seniors inquiry which takes a broad view of ageing to look beyond aged care and to consider older peoples’ many contributions and what they can do when the barriers to participation are removed.
We need you to join us in placing your knowledge of Seniors’ needs, interests and concerns before this Inquiry, and the Government. Find out how to be involved.
Be an Agent of Change. Demand real change. Real action. Now.
To join the campaign give us a call on (03) 9655 2106.
You can also email us your details to seniors@cotavic.org.au
Victorian State Budget
In its 2012-13 State Budget Submission, COTA is calling on the State Government to invest in the furure of Victorian seniors by acting now.
While we need to plan for the future, and put in place strategies and policies to ensure that Victorians will be able to experience an active, inclusive and sustainable ageing, our current seniors should not be forgotten. Growth in funding for established programs for older people and funding of new initiatives is critical in the next State Budget.
Now is the time for action and leadership.
COTA has identified the following priorities for 2012-13:
- Invest in the health of Victorian Seniors;
- Invest in community supports and amenity for seniors;
- Invest in alleviating cost of living pressures for seniors.
Fair Go For Pensioners
Fair Go for Pensioners is a group of organisations working to:
- Increase pensions and concessions for low income older people.
- Guarantee access to health and aged care services for all older people and
- Improve public transport.
Our achievements to date have been substantial. In 2009 we gained significant increases to single age and disability pensions and the pension rate was raised from 25% to 27.2 % of average male earnings.
In 2010 we ran an active campaign on utility concessions and the new Bailieu government is going to increase the electricity concession of 17.5% by applying it year-round not just in the winter.
If you would like to contribute to this campaign you can:
- become an active member in one of the organisations that are members of the Fair Go for Pensioners Coalition
- Encourage your community organisations to join Fair Go for Pensioners and/or support its claims
- Advocate our goals within your local community and your Members of Parliament.
Our Statement of Claims to Our Elected Representatives lists Victorian members and sets out what Fair Go for Pensioners Coalition is working to achieve at both the State and Federal levels.
Co-convenors of the Victorian Steering Committee are:
Patricia Reeve
9655 2123
seniors@cotavic.org.au
Frank Cherry
9878 9659
f.cherry@bigpond.com
George Catsourakis
9380 1603
gCats@bigpond.com
I wish to support your call for improved housing for senior citizens – I believe the government should be providing affordable cost retirement villages – these villages provide community and all the needs for the elderly – lonelieness in the suburbs creates endless health and mental problems and ever increasing costs for services
– the spinoff of this idea would be more housing for families – imagine how many 3 and 4 bedroom houses are occupied by one or two elderly citizens.
I recognize that there is a vibrant Retirement Village industry but by and large quality residences are very expensive – the lifestyle is excellent mainly due to the community values built up by the residents. The owners of these villages are sheep in wolves clothing –
* they are dealing with senior citizens who are often unwell – the sheer
idea of moving house is unsettling
* the contracts they are asked to sign are a legal minefield
* the sales staff often apply pressure to make decisions
* the houses they are building do not take into account the present or future
needs of the elderly – e.g. steps at all door entrance and exits, low
toilets, high cupboards and low cupboards where you can’t bend
down to gain access. Passages, entrance and exit doors only just
wide enough for walkers, wheelchairs or persons on crutches – I
believe there needs to be a special building code for villages – I
would refer you to “The Age” Saturday January 22, 2011 – Insight 22
Paying a High Price to retire –
Add to all this there is no real care in many Retirement Villages – we
are continually being reminded that we are in an independent living
retirement village – if you are taken ill the Manager will call the
Ambulance – the whole responsibility is thrown onto the Ambulance
and then the Emergency Departments of Hospitals – therefore
clogging up these services and adding huge costs to our Health
system – there must be a better way to provide answers for
sometimes simple problems.
I will be interested to have your comments on my observations,
thankyou for the opportunity to express my views. Yours sincerely,
Audrey Mutton
Service
wide enough for walkers or wheelchairs
I wish to support your call for improved housing for senior citizens – I believe the government should be providing affordable cost retirement villages – these villages provide community and all the needs for the elderly – lonelieness in the suburbs creates endless health and mental problems and ever increasing costs for services
– the spinoff of this idea would be more housing for families – imagine how many 3 and 4 bedroom houses are occupied by one or two elderly citizens.
I recognize that there is a vibrant Retirement Village industry but by and large quality residences are very expensive – the lifestyle is excellent mainly due to the community values built up by the residents. The owners of these villages are sheep in wolves clothing –
* they are dealing with senior citizens who are often unwell – the sheer
idea of moving house is unsettling
* the contracts they are asked to sign are a legal minefield
* the sales staff often apply pressure to make decisions
* the houses they are building do not take into account the present or future
needs of the elderly – e.g. steps at all door entrance and exits, low
toilets, high cupboards and low cupboards where you can’t bend
down to gain access. Passages, entrance and exit doors only just
wide enough for walkers, wheelchairs or persons on crutches – I
believe there needs to be a special building code for villages – I
would refer you to “The Age” Saturday January 22, 2011 – Insight 22
Paying a High Price to retire –
Add to all this there is no real care in many Retirement Villages – we
are continually being reminded that we are in an independent living
retirement village – if you are taken ill the Manager will call the
Ambulance – the whole responsibility is thrown onto the Ambulance
and then the Emergency Departments of Hospitals – therefore
clogging up these services and adding huge costs to our Health
system – there must be a better way to provide answers for
sometimes simple problems.
I will be interested to have your comments on my observations,
thankyou for the opportunity to express my views. Yours sincerely,
Audrey Mutton
Service
wide enough for walkers or wheelchairs
I wish to support your call for improved housing for senior citizens – I believe the government should be providing affordable cost retirement villages – these villages provide community and all the needs for the elderly – lonelieness in the suburbs creates endless health and mental problems and ever increasing costs for services
– the spinoff of this idea would be more housing for families – imagine how many 3 and 4 bedroom houses are occupied by one or two elderly citizens.
I recognize that there is a vibrant Retirement Village industry but by and large quality residences are very expensive – the lifestyle is excellent mainly due to the community values built up by the residents. The owners of these villages are sheep in wolves clothing –
* they are dealing with senior citizens who are often unwell – the sheer
idea of moving house is unsettling
* the contracts they are asked to sign are a legal minefield
* the sales staff often apply pressure to make decisions
* the houses they are building do not take into account the present or future
needs of the elderly – e.g. steps at all door entrance and exits, low
toilets, high cupboards and low cupboards where you can’t bend
down to gain access. Passages, entrance and exit doors only just
wide enough for walkers, wheelchairs or persons on crutches – I
believe there needs to be a special building code for villages – I
would refer you to “The Age” Saturday January 22, 2011 – Insight 22
Paying a High Price to retire –
Add to all this there is no real care in many Retirement Villages – we
are continually being reminded that we are in an independent living
retirement village – if you are taken ill the Manager will call the
Ambulance – the whole responsibility is thrown onto the Ambulance
and then the Emergency Departments of Hospitals – therefore
clogging up these services and adding huge costs to our Health
system – there must be a better way to provide answers for
sometimes simple problems.
I will be interested to have your comments on my observations,
thankyou for the opportunity to express my views. Yours sincerely,
Audrey Mutton
Service
wide enough for walkers or wheelchairs
Thanks for your comments and support for our call for better housing for older people.
We are particularly disappointed that the the previous Government’s proposed universal housing regulations did not get through before the election.
This measure would have addressed the issues you raise, and many more.
Thanks for your comments and support for our call for better housing for older people.
We are particularly disappointed that the the previous Government’s proposed universal housing regulations did not get through before the election.
This measure would have addressed the issues you raise, and many more.
Thanks for your comments and support for our call for better housing for older people.
We are particularly disappointed that the the previous Government’s proposed universal housing regulations did not get through before the election.
This measure would have addressed the issues you raise, and many more.