Published 10 September 2024, revised 13 September 2024
Independent Member for Mayo, Rebekha Sharkie MP, has placed questions on the Notice Paper to the Minister for Aged Care, Hon Anika Wells MP, asking what the Government intends to do about the gap in allied health care services for older Australians receiving aged care, saying, ‘I have placed questions on the Notice Paper for the Minister for Health and Aged Care, Hon Anika Wells MP, asking how the Government intends to better identify and meet the allied health care needs of residential aged care residents so they can age with the support and dignity they deserve.’
Featuring insights from AHPA’s Senior Policy and Advocacy Advisor Dr Chris Atmore, the media release highlights the severe underprovision of allied health in aged care:
- The most recent Government Quarterly Financial Snapshot of the Aged Care Sector (Quarter 2 2023-24) shows that the average spend per resident per day on allied health care has declined to just $5.17 or 4.11 minutes per day -around half the amount of time that the Royal Commission considered was inadequate in 2021.
- the latest Aged Care Provider Workforce Survey also shows that in 2023 just 6,400 allied health professionals and assistants were working in aged care homes – a decrease of 42 per cent from 11,200 in 2020.
Dr Atmore discussed the importance of allied health meeting assessed need, and what needs to happen for those in aged care to receive the care they deserve, saying, ‘The Royal Commission and now the Inspector-General have both emphasised that provision of allied health services in aged care is fundamental to reablement. This means that allied health care services must be provided to meet individually assessed needs, not rationed as if they were an optional luxury. To achieve this, we need a nationally consistent allied health needs assessment and care planning process. This must be supported by a fully funded multidisciplinary team approach in both home and residential aged care, where allied health professionals engage as needed alongside nurses, personal care workers and GPs.’