Editorial

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Welcome to the first homepage edition of i2P for 2012.
In many ways it has been a slow start to the New Year because of having to deal with the “leftovers” from 2011.
One of those items for i2P was that a third-party provider to the site did not advise of a code change to the security section in our subscribe panel, creating a range of frustrated subscribers not able to get on board.
We apologise to all those potential subscribers who were unable to register with us in the second half of 2011, but if you try once more you should have no problem.

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Volume 2012 Number 1

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Dramatic Reduction in Aged Care Investment

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James Ellerson articles by this author...

James Ellerson is passionate about developing primary health care services across the spectrum of all health care practitioners working in a practical alliance, whether in an urbanised or a remote setting. He sees a wide range of opportunities for all health professionals who are currently held back by lethargic leadership. Attitudinal change is now under way because of new directions being set by governments both globally and in Australasia, creating empowerment of patients, better systems of delivery, with all resulting in primary health care at an optimum level.

Pharmacists involved in servicing aged care facilities should find the dramatic reduction in investment a source of major concern. The figures below were released in April 2009. Viewed against a backdrop of a rapidly ageing population, one must now consider where will they (or you, if you are a senior pharmacist)go when it is time to have this form of care. The shortfall will have to be made up in some way and smart pharmacy money should be gearing up to service patients in their home. It would appear aged care facility patient populations will become static. While there will be pressure from these facilities to invest in serevices that will contain costs, the growth will obviously be the home market, bypassing facilities completely. The press release from the Aged Care Association follows:

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Aged Care Association Australia (ACAA) said today that “recent Government data completely vindicated the industry’s position that the risk involved in investing in aged care is now too great considering the
poor returns that providers are able to achieve within the current scheme.”
ACAA CEO, Rod Young said, “the 2008 survey of the aged care industry undertaken by Department of Health and Ageing showed a more than 50% decline in the planned building work for the future".

Proportion of aged care homes undertaking building work:

“If you’re looking for an aged care place for your mother or father anytime during the next thirty years then you better get used to a long wait,” said Rod Young.
“This trend data clearly shows that the industry will be radically under supplied in residential care places and that the public policy objective of ensuring future choice for residents and their families will simply fail to materialize,” Mr Young said.

“Aged care providers have until recently, been investing up to $1.5B per annum in new and replacement building stock. The flow on effect to the broader economy has been estimated to be as much as $6B. It is difficult therefore to understand, in the current economic climate, why the Government would not assist the aged care industry to maximise its building work which would add to the broader impact ofthe economic stimulus,” said Rod Young.

“Current Government policies are going to lead to huge delays in older Australians being able to access care and services in the future. This is not how older Australians and their families should be treated,” Mr Young said.

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