2017-04-11 P&E Agenda Attachment 1 to Item 1 Housing Needs Assessment

         The Commission noted that there is evidence that choice also improves wellbeing (life
         satisfaction, life expectancy, independence and continuity of care), and choice encourages
         competition, efficiency, innovation and higher quality.
        There are greater levels of affluence in older people than has previously been the case,
         and therefore people requiring care have a wider range of assets and incomes.
        Older people have increasing expectations of care, including expectations of culturally
         relevant care (for culturally and linguistically diverse, sexually diverse and Aboriginal and
         Torres Strait Islander communities).
        Although family members, friends and neighbours continue to provide most of the care
         for older people, as the population ages and due to other social and economic
         circumstances, there will be a relative decline in availability of informal carers.
        Changing patterns of disease (increasing dementia, severe arthritis and serious visual and
         hearing impairments), diverse geographic spread of population and increasing need for
         psycho-geriatric care and palliative care are issues for provision of aged care services.

Reforms to the aged care system are ongoing, and the following reforms were announced in the
2015 Federal Budget (Australian Government 2015a):

        From February 2017, funding for Home Care Packages will follow the consumer so they
         are free to select any provider to deliver their care. This will give older Australians greater
         choice and increase competition which will encourage higher quality and innovation in
         service delivery. With this change, home care providers will not have to apply for home
         care packages in future Aged Care Approvals Rounds after 2015.
        From July 2018, the Government intends to combine Home Care Packages and the
         Commonwealth Home Support Program into a single integrated care at home program.
         The Commonwealth Home Support Program provides services to people with low care
         needs, but would benefit from assistance at home (including, domestic assistance with
         cleaning or washing clothes, personal care with showering, dressing, hair care and going
         to the toilet, home maintenance, minor home modifications, and some nursing care) as
         well as community-based services such as social activities and transport to get out and
         about for shopping or appointments.

Previous reforms have included:

        Expanding the availability of home care services and expanding the number of types of
         packages from two to four:
           o   Level 1 supports people with basic care needs;
           o   Level 2 supports people with low-level care needs (equivalent to the former
               Community Aged Care (CACP) Packages);
           o   Level 3 supports people with intermediate care needs;
           o   Level 4 supports people with high-level care needs (equivalent to the former
               Extended Aged Care at Home (EACH) and Extended Aged Care at Home Dementia
               (EACHD) packages). (Australian Government 2015b)
       The definition of high care includes home care levels 3-4 and low care includes levels 1-2.
        Changes to residential aged care including:
           o   Removing the distinction between low care and high care for permanent residential
               aged care (still exists in respite care). Residents continue to receive care to meet their




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