The new Aged Care Act impacts everyone who accesses aged care services. Discover the key changes for older people that are now in effect.
The new act starts this week. It is designed to empower older people, improve the quality of services, and ensure more choice and control over their care. It will:
- outline the rights of older people who are seeking and accessing aged care services
- create a single entry point, with clear eligibility requirements
- include a fair, culturally safe single assessment framework
- support the delivery of aged care services
- establish new system oversight and accountability arrangements
- increase provider accountability through a new regulatory model
- strengthen the aged care regulator
Here’s what matters for older people:
Older people will be aware of their rights and can seek to have them upheld.
Older people approved for permanent residential care will be allocated a place (not a provider).
The Statement of Rights, streamlined obligations and strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards will make it clear what older people can expect from providers and aged care workers.
People accessing services under the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged Care (NATSIFAC) Program or the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) will have the same regulatory protections as other aged care programs.
New complaints arrangements will facilitate access to restorative outcomes, and older people who make a complaint or raise an issue relating to a provider’s conduct will be protected from reprisal action.
A new compensation pathway will be available where a serious injury or illness results from a breach of the registered provider’s duty.
Older people will be able to register a supporter who must comply with supported decision-making principles.
People under the age of 65 years can only access Australian Government-funded aged care services if they have care needs and are:
- an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person aged 50 years or over
- homeless or at risk of homelessness and aged 50 years or over
- already living in an aged care home or accessing aged care services
Learn more from the Department of Health
Support at home
The Support at Home program replaces the Home Care Package Program (HCP) and the Short-Term Restorative Care Program (STRC).
- more funding levels for complex needs
- better access to assessment and reassessments as your needs change
- the Restorative Care Pathway, to maintain and improve your independence through allied health services
- the Assistive Technology and Home Modifications scheme for access to products, equipment and home modifications to meet your assessed needs
- the End-of-Life Pathway, with extra funding to support older people to stay at home in their last 3 months of life.
Free, independent and confidential help with aged care
Our Aged Care Advocates provide information and support to people using or seeking to access in home and residential aged care services.
More about our Aged Care Advocates
We are an accredited specialist community legal centre that provides free legal assistance on a range of aged care related issues and more to older people in NSW.
