AGED CARE SERVICES IN AUSTRALIA

AGED CARE SERVICES IN AUSTRALIA

WHAT IS AGEING?

• Ageing is A progressive, universal decline in function that occurs in organisms over time

• Ageing varies widely in different individuals and in different organs within a particular individual

• Ageing is not a disease, however the risk of developing disease is increased with ageing

AGED CARE SERVICES IN AUSTRALIA

Aged care services are funded by the Australian government. They may be residential or community care services. Support workers need to know:• Client's expectations of residential aged care services• Government policy on residential aged care services• How the economy affects residential aged care services• How population affects residential aged care services

AGED CARE SERVICES IN AUSTRALIA

AGED CARE SERVICES IN AUSTRALIA

Client's expectations of residential aged care services

Older people believe that care services can: • Assist those cannot live at home even without support • Cater to the needs of people who can live at home with support• Promote their physical and psychosocial wellbeing by providing

support that is responsive to their needs and preferences

AGED CARE SERVICES IN AUSTRALIA

Government policy on residential aged care services

Some important laws and rules that govern aged care in Australia are:

• Aged Care Act 1997• State Legislation• Residential Care Manual• Privacy Act 1988• Occupational Health and Safety Act

AGED CARE SERVICES IN AUSTRALIA

AGED CARE ACT 1997

• Provides guidelines for how care can be given and ensures quality services are provided to older people

• Protects the rights of older people

AGED CARE SERVICES IN AUSTRALIA

STATE LEGISLATION

• Each state and territory in Australia has its own aged care laws and rules.

• The rules about aged care may change. • Your supervisor must let you know when a change

affects your work

AGED CARE SERVICES IN AUSTRALIA

RESIDENTIAL CARE MANUAL

• The residential care manual was written by the Australian government in 2005

• It is based on Aged Care Act 1997• It explains who needs to do what in an aged care

home

AGED CARE SERVICES IN AUSTRALIA

PRIVACY ACT 1988

• This legislation protects all personal information handled by business

• Attached to this legislation are the ten national privacy principles, which set the standard for handling personal information

AGED CARE SERVICES IN AUSTRALIA

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY ACT 1991

• Protects workers from injury or illness • Level of responsibility workers and employers must

take to ensure their safety and safety of others

AGED CARE SERVICES IN AUSTRALIA

How the economy affects residential aged care services

One in four carers of the aged and/or people with a disability have reduced their hours of work because of the cost of care.

It has been recommended that the Australian Government should provide additional financial support to relieve the cost of care.

Carers also feel undervalued and misunderstood by employers and co-workers.

AGED CARE SERVICES IN AUSTRALIA

How population affects residential aged care services

The worldwide population is ageing.

Improvements in environment, diet and the treatment and prevention of infectious diseases are largely responsible for the 30-year increase in life expectancy since 1900.

AGED CARE SERVICES IN AUSTRALIAGLOBAL AGEING

• Between 2000-30, the number of older people worldwide is expected to increase from 420 to 974 million.

• Presently, 59% of older persons live in the developing countries of Africa, Asia, Latin America, Caribbean, and Oceania

• The developing world has the largest absolute number of older adults and is experiencing the largest percentage increase

AGED CARE SERVICES IN AUSTRALIA

Current philosophies of service delivery in the sector

• The care of the aged is a shared responsibility involving more than just immediate family

• Government at all levels have joint responsibility in allocating resources to aged care

• Charities and enterprises can be involved• Emphasis is placed on home and community care which is provided

directly to the client in their own home

AGED CARE SERVICES IN AUSTRALIA

Current philosophies of service delivery in the sector

• Emphasis is placed on an assessment of needs by an Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT)

• Older people have inalienable rights that should be built into all services i.e. making choices, respect, dignity, confidentiality & privacy

• In consultation with the states, the government has created standards for care have been established for service quality and outcomes

IHNA offers qualifications in aged care, disability and nursing. Go to http://www.ihna.edu.au to kick start your health career.

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