Consumer Engagement in the Aged Care Reform Process
Responses from Q&A sheet
Table of contents
- Abbreviations
- Executive Summary
- Introduction
- General
- Special Groups Consultations
- Conslusion
Appendix A - General consultations- Appendix B – CALD consultations
Appendix C – GLBTI consultations- Appendix D – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander consultation
- Appendix E – Regional consultations
- Appendix F - Alternative models of hospital based care
What are people living with dementia looking for in aged care reform?
- Continuity of care
- Safety – no restraint as ‘behaviour support tool’
- Carer support – adequate, responsive, adaptive, flexible
- Maintain community living, rather than placement
What concerns you most in access to community and residential care services that meet your needs?
- That community support cannot be increased to maintain a person at home, the only option is placement in residential care
- Too many agencies involved
- Partners often have to separate after years together one enters residential care
- The trend towards large institutional care – 150 beds plus does not equal a home like environment or the capacity to provide support that meets individual needs
Do you have particular concerns around access to information and assessment for access to care services?
- Access is often too slow
- Information overload
- Unable to find the relevant information, it is overwhelming
- Services can be discriminating based on age (under 65), culture (GLBTI etc.)
- If you can pay, you get access quicker
- Need to remove heterosexual subtext to information, access, entry (e.g. wife/husband unless the law changes)
- Would like to see a senior’s gateway website identify aged care service providers who are trained in LGBTI sensitivity
What kinds of services do you need most (e.g. home care, respite care, residential care services, services for those with severe behavioural issues)?
- Continuity and consistency
- Care more than three times a week
- Respite support
- Prompt access to assessment
- Education and training to increase sensitivity and awareness of staff and residents of facilities to the entitlements of GLBTI people (both home and residential care)
- More variety in both community and residential care e.g. 6 bed homes, GLBTI specific, culturally sensitive, more integration with the community
- Environmentally sustainable, low maintenance buildings
- Home care should allow for couples to stay together if they wish, after a lifetime together
What types of support and services do you need to assist you in your role as a carer?
- Rapid respite is and when it is needed (not just planned)
- In-home respite for breaks
- Flexibility and choice
- Access to equipment quickly