The release of the Government’s Intergenerational Report (IGR) backs the need for reforms being considered for aged care in Australia, according to Aged and Community Providers Association (ACCPA) CEO Tom Symondson.
The IGR forecasts the number of Australians aged over 85 will triple, and those over 65 will double in the next 40 years, with demand for aged care set to spiral.
At the same time fewer Australians will be working and paying tax, putting significant and continued strain on the federal budget.
“The IGR shows just how important it is we reform the system, so that it’s both fit for purpose now and fit for purpose in the decades to come,” Mr Symondson said.
The Government’s Aged Care Taskforce, which Mr Symondson is a member of, is looking at ways to fund and improve age care in Australia.
“It’s vital we take this opportunity, armed with the information the IGR provides about the scope of the problem, to find the solutions and meet the challenges associated with an ageing population.”
“This is a once in a generation chance to get aged care right. We need to take a long-term view, to both improve the lives of older Australians and create a system that works now and decades into the future.”
Mr Symondson says it’s the first time in more than 20 years that Australians have held a proper conversation about the future of aged care.
“We know that we need a system that supports access for all people in Australia. Every Australian should have access to high-quality aged care that is sustainably funded over the next 40 years and more.”
“The Government’s Aged Care Taskforce brings hope that the problems facing aged care can be fixed and the sector improved. The IGR shows just how vital this work is for all Australians.”
“Currently more than half of aged care providers are losing money on each and every resident, and the situation for home care providers is on a downward trend. That’s not sustainable now, let alone in the years to come as demand for aged care surges.”
