Federal Budget makes positive step towards addressing aged care issues, but innovative delivery models must be embraced to improve outcomes.
Not-for-profit provider of in-home and community-based health and wellness services for older Australians, integratedliving Australia has welcomed the Federal Budget’s significant investment and focus on aged care.
integratedliving Australia CEO, Catherine Daley, said the record investment now needed to be translated into better outcomes for older Australians right across the nation.
“We welcome the much-needed investment in the aged care system included in the Budget, but we need to ensure that this investment actually delivers what is needed on the ground,” Ms Daley said.
“Innovative approaches to service delivery must be embraced if we are to see this investment translated into improved outcomes for older Australians across the country.
“For too long, older people and those living with chronic health conditions outside metropolitan centres have not had equitable access to health and ageing services.
“Australians in rural, regional and remote communities, who are ageing and living with complex health needs, should be able to access services at home, to the same level as their counterparts in the city, and not be disadvantaged just because they have a regional or rural postcode.
“We know that a new approach to service delivery is needed to bridge the divide between the city and the bush in health and aged care.
“That is why integratedliving stands ready to work with government on this approach, specifically through our Integrated Health Systems Demonstrator, which will integrate aged care and health care in rural, regional and remote communities and translate investment into outcomes.”
The Demonstrator is a new, virtually managed and delivered personal health management model of care, targeted at communities in rural, regional and remote Australia.
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