A lot of you would have seen the PC report in draft and various multiples of contributions to the Productivity Commission (PC) since the onset of what is now called the “Caring for Older Australians” report, published on 8 August 2011.
If you haven’t read it, then Functional Living would like to point out a few key considerations and a few of the stats that might influence you to think about your future care closer to now, than in the future.
Let’s cover a few stats: most of us now know that Australia faces an ageing demographic. Have you thought about who is going to care for you when you get older? Have you factored it into your retirement funds? Have you had the discussion with the family on what you want? Based on Functional Livings research and experience, most of you, if healthy and approaching or in retirement will say “no” to most of these questions. Now, can I scare you with some numbers from the report? P18 of the Summary: right now 1m Australians receive care, by 2050; 3.5 million Aussies will need care. If that’s staggering, then also pay mind to the number of people around who will take on caring roles, to allow you to stay in your own home and ‘age in place’. The demand for care will occur at the same time as an “age induced” tightening of the Australian Labour Market. So, if we have the same model of care in place now, some people needing care at home will miss out. Or look to expensive private arrangements in care. I liken this very much to having a child that needs child care. If you miss out on a government subsidised spot in care, or if those care arrangements don’t work for you, you pay for a private nanny and fund this completely yourself and at your own risk, as there are no accreditation requirements for nannies.
Overall, the PC report does recommend a big overhaul of current care arrangements, luckily seeing the needs of Australians as they age to be a priority (they want more variety and control over the care they receive). To summarise into one sentence, if you want to age in place, you will be assessed via a “gateway agency” and then recommended for levels of care. There will be a greater number of care packages available to you, and you will have a choice of provider. Of course, with growing wealth in future retirees and with exercised choice there will be a price to pay. You will make your own contributions to care based on the income assessment completed as part of your “Gateway assessment”. The report also proposes a new way of funding a change in accommodation, which will protect the persons assets (allowing for example a spouse to remain at home) if you move into supported care. They also propose to make it a bit easier for you to find out about all of this information.
One thing the PC report addresses, albeit, a mere smattering, was ‘enablement’ of older Aussies. Often, it is the families of older folks who ‘worry’ and are ‘concerned for the welfare of Mum and Dad if they stay at home as they age”. They want peace of mind and some want less burden; especially if they are a part of the intergenerational sandwich (ie they have kids and ageing parents). One key intervention that is often missed by everyone concerned with an older Australian ageing in place is the combination of “Enablement” and “Home Modifications/ Visitable Design of their home. The result of these two interventions could mean Mum or Dad can stay where they are and their supporters can feel a sense of relief. Functional Living exists to enable older Australians to “age in place” and hopes that Aged care providers and allied health professionals alike, along with key builder/ renovators/designers pay attention to the combination of “enablement and Visitable design” which will reduce the need for reliance on care packages.
And last but by no means least, the key underlying theme not addressed by the PC report, that in my view needs enormous focus in Australian society is the “your old, so you are redundant” view of younger Australians. Let’s face it; with more competitive markets in aged care, which is essentially the PC reports recommendation, there will be a greater focus on marketers having to beef up campaigns to persuade older Australians that they are better than anyone else at caring. Likewise the providers themselves are going to have to work extra hard to attract staff. This war for talent is going to be made tougher if the views of younger Aussie’s remain as they are now. Let’s hope the ‘ageist views’ of younger marketers and HR professionals alike, get this message right. Functional Living would love to see the Australian government break down ‘redundancy views’ of younger generations, and see older Australians have far greater avenues by which they remain active, working or non-working citizens, that can impart their learning’s and make major community contributions for generations to follow.
