Funding "boost" a blow for aged care
ACSA CEO Greg Mundy said it was almost impossible to understand how the Government could take pride in the announcement when CPI alone was 2.9 per cent for the March Quarter.
"The dollar amount of $140 million sounds impressive but does not come close to addressing the costs of providing care and services for older Australians," Mr Mundy said.
"The 1.7 per cent will do nothing to stop the erosion of community care hours or help to pay more competitive wages for valued staff. It means the competition for staff will only get worse in aged care. The hours of community care an older person receives will continue to fall without more funding.
"Of course any additional funds help, but if the Government is serious about its health reform agenda and providing older Australians with access to high quality accessible and affordable care, it will need to do better than this.
"The Minister and the Government might be committed to a sustainable aged care sector but there will be little left to sustain the longer the industry has to endure shortfalls in funding.
"With any recommendations from the Productivity Commission inquiry into aged care still 12 months away, it seems the door has been closed on any real change to the status quo.
"Far from a funding boost, 1.7 per cent is a funding blow."
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2010 Funding boost a blow for aged care
