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Living Longer, Living Better - Benefits for Older Australians Currently Receiving Care

The Prime Minister and Minister Butler, on 20th April 2012, unveiled a comprehensive package of reforms to build a better, fairer, more sustainable and more nationally consistent aged care system.

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Dear Aged Care Stakeholder,

The Prime Minister and Minister Butler, on 20th April 2012, unveiled a comprehensive package of reforms to build a better, fairer, more sustainable and more nationally consistent aged care system.

The “Living Longer. Living Better.” aged care reform package provides $3.7 billion over five years. An outline of the key components of the Government’s reform package are attached for your information.

Ageing and Aged Care Division
Department of Health and Ageing

Living Longer, Living Better – Benefits for Older Australians Currently Receiving Care

On 20 April 2012 the Government announced its aged care reform package Living Longer. Living Better.

Before 30 June 2014 there will be no change for older Australians currently receiving care.

From 1 July 2014 older Australians currently receiving home care will have no change to their current arrangements unless they move to a higher level of care.

From 1 July 2014 for those individuals in a residential facility there will be no change to their current arrangements unless they permanently move to another facility.

What the reform package means for you

The Government has committed $3.7 billion over five years to deliver for older Australians, their carers and families:

• More support and care at home.
• Better access to residential care.
• Greater choice over the services received in your home.
• Increased recognition of carers and those from culturally diverse backgrounds.
• More support for those with dementia.
• Better access to information.

Expand Home Support– $955.4 million for more home care packages; choice and control through consumer directed services and a fairer means test.
Establish the Aged Care Gateway – a new national call centre and My Aged Care website, which will include quality indicators to empower consumers to make comparisons between different providers.
Improve residential care - $660.3 million for increased Government subsidy, viability supplement, trialling Consumer Directed Care, expanding the Community Visitors Scheme, establishing a new Aged Care financing Authority and improving the Aged Care Funding Instrument.
Improve Workforce - $1.2 billion to fund initiatives that enhance aged care services in Australia, including addressing workforce pressures and improving quality.
Improve consumer advocacy – expand the National Aged Care Advocacy Program to assist older people to resolve concerns related to aged care services.
Support Diverse Older Australians - $192.0 million will be funded to ensure culturally appropriate care to older people.
Tackle Dementia - $268.4 million will improve dementia care for older and younger people with dementia in aged care and acute care settings.

These changes will happen gradually over the next five years. In 2016-17 there will be a major review to assess how the system has improved.

For more information please visit the Living Longer, Living Better website at www.livinglongerlivingbetter.gov.au or call 1800 900 554