OPAN CEO Craig Gear has supported the progress of the Aged Care Bill 2024 in his evidence to the Senate inquiry – provided it addresses some of the key recommendations addressed in the organisation’s submission.
‘OPAN believes this Bill has the potential to improve aged care quality, increase protections for older people, and enable a more financially sustainable aged care system,’ Mr Gear told the inquiry on 17 October.
‘However, older people have raised significant concerns. These are addressed in the 49 recommendations we have made in our submission.’
5 key issues
In his opening statement, Mr Gear highlighted 5 issues that had yet to be resolved:
- Aged care assessors, and in fact all those who interact with older people, must be required to uphold the Statement of Rights so that older people’s needs and wishes are addressed throughout their aged care journey.
- Anyone who is part of the aged care system must be required to support older people to continue to make their own decisions. This includes aged care workers, aged care supporters and legally appointed substitute decision-makers.
- Aged care providers must not use restrictive practices without authorisation and monitoring by the regulator. And they must be held responsible for the harm restrictive practices can cause.
- Financial hardship arrangements must be addressed in the primary legislation. Older people must not be denied aged care services due to their inability to pay or be pushed into poverty due to aged care fees.
- Clear exception pathways must be provided for any caps to the Support at Home program so that older people, particularly those living with disability, do not have to choose between, say, personal care and a hygienic house.
‘The majority of older people I’ve spoken to want this reform now – they can’t wait any longer for their rights or better supports,’ Mr Gear said.
‘However, we are also calling for a legislated 3-year review to make sure the Act is effective for older people and to address any unintended consequences.’
Further information
Read our submission >
Keep up to date on the progress of the new Aged Care Act on our webpage >
Read the transcript of Mr Gear’s evidence on the Parliament of Australia website >
