Many elderly Australians, both in the community and in residential aged care, rely on allied health practitioners for specialised support for a range of physical and mental health conditions. Allied health services help support older people to maintain or improve their health and/or level of independence.
Lack of funded access to allied health services is a major factor in reducing health outcomes for older people and increasing overall costs to the health system.
AHPA has been active on several fronts on the issue of aged care funding reform, including making a number of submissions and presenting to the Royal Commission on Aged Care Quality and Safety in a bid to improve access to allied health aged care services.