Fresh calls for dementia framework and advisory group
Australia’s health ministers should agree to a new National Framework for Action on Dementia to ensure better care for people living with dementia, Alzheimer’s Australia has said.
Australia’s health ministers should agree to a new National Framework for Action on Dementia to drive improvements in primary and acute care to ensure better care for people living with dementia, Alzheimer’s Australia has said.
An advisory group is also required to provide coordinated advice to the ministers for health and social services on issues related to dementia.
In its submission to the Federal Government’s Commission of Audit, Alzheimer’s Australia also said that within the aged care sector there was some uncertainty as to whether the number and mix of community packages and residential places would meet consumer demands. Therefore, the government should establish a benchmark for timely access to care against which current ratios could be “reviewed and readjusted appropriately.”
There was also a need to consider how to create services that were more responsive to the needs of consumers. For example, respite was a critical support for carers and people with dementia but often appropriate respite was difficult to access, Alzheimer’s Australia said. It advocated for a cost-neutral trial of “cashing-out” for respite to explore this approach.
The consumer advocacy group also called for further consideration of the care of people with behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia, as there was evidence that “antipsychotic medications are being used as a first line approach to care against clinical guidelines with the risk of death.”
“Furthermore, the dementia and behaviour supplements in residential aged care should be linked to requirements for providers to be able to document their ability to provide care to people who have high care needs,” its submission said.
More broadly, Alzheimer’s Australia urged the commission to be cautious that the search for savings did not undermine important reforms that were underway. “Investment in health promotion, early intervention and community services and supports within both the health and aged care sector can lead to a significant reduction in health care costs and improved quality of life for older Australians.”
Elsewhere, the Community Services and Health Industry Skills Council (CS&HISC) called for a national health and community services workforce plan “developed through strong national leadership, inter-agency collaboration and effective industry engagement” in its submission to the commission.
It also proposed a review of the funding flows for health and community services. “The funding of health and community services is complex, with multiple agencies involved at different levels… There needs to be greater clarity to identify and remove any conflicting policy agendas or duplication of effort,” the submission said.
The CS&HISC proposed the adoption of “more innovative work practices” in the community services and health industry, as well as a review of existing tertiary education systems, including vocational education and training.
“In VET, tailoring the system to support a quicker speed to market of qualifications would help ensure that the competency standards and qualifications developed are relevant to current industry practice,” it said.
Read AAA’s other coverage on the Commission of Audit:
Call for national plan on ageing
Scrap rationing of places, audit commission told
Commission of Audit: friend or foe?
