The long awaited Productivity Report: Caring for Older Australians has been released. Overall, the changes proposed for community aged care are positive and needed. There is an overwhelming preference by Australian people to stay at home as they age, with support as required to maintain a healthy, active and independent life. With the increasing population of elderly people, this will only be possible with substantial changes to the current system.

The PC Report proposes a 20% increase in community aged care packages in the next two years. This is a good thing, and will help to reduce the excessive wait for packaged care that exists in some regions. The creation of an interim package between CACPs and EACH is also a good thing, as this will allow for a more seamless approach as care needs increase. The focus on consumer choice will give elderly people the opportunity to make decisions about the services which will maximize their quality of life. This too is a good thing.

Providers of care will no doubt be challenged by the suggestion that clients will be able to change their providers at their discretion. This will focus providers on ensuring they are very responsive to client needs. This will improve performance, as will the introduction of accreditation processes for the community care sector. The emergence of disability providers promoting ‘aged care’ for people with a disability over 65 years of age will increase competition even more.

The most uncertainty in the report lies with the proposed Seniors Gateway and it’s centralized assessment process. Standardized assessments will be a good thing, as long as the Gateway does not become a bottle neck which slows down the assessment process. Further detail is also required about specialist reablement services which are essential for ensuring the ‘entitlement’ is not seen as a right, no matter what.

Overall, the proposed reforms will be good for clients, and although potentially challenging for providers, will bring about much needed change.