Australia’s aged care system is undergoing significant change, but is still governed by an act more than 25 years old. Can the government meet its mid-year deadline for the next round of reforms?
Articles on aged care facilities
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In future, Australia will spend much more on aged care. This increased spending needs to be well planned, so access is protected and all older people – regardless of income – get the care they need.
Remaking aged care in Australia starts with embracing people-centred design. Instead of the institutional model with its focus on restraint, we need to understand and design for people’s needs.
Super-spreader events typically have the ‘three Vs" in common: indoor venues, poor ventilation and vocalisation. But many buildings frequented by the public lack ventilation or the means to monitor it.
If Australia created more age-friendly neighbourhoods — which really are more liveable for everyone — then we wouldn’t have to rely so heavily on underfunded, substandard aged-care homes.
Most aged care homes are designed to be naturally ventilated. But when windows are closed to keep out the cold, poor ventilation appears to be common – and that’s a problem for infection control.
The failure of regulators to take decisive action against errant companies is an unintended consequence of the design of ‘responsive regulation’.
Cost-cutting, funding that doesn’t reward good food, and residents not having a voice contribute to poor quality nutrition in our aged care homes. That can be devastating. But there is a better way.
Two trends in Australia, an ageing population and warming climate, are increasing the threat that heatwaves pose to our health. Increasing vegetation cover is one way every city can reduce the risk.
The NDIS has started to reduce the admissions of young people with disabilities to aged care facilities, but more than 6,000 are still waiting for more suitable accommodation.
We tend to consider the deaths of older people, and especially those in care, are due to natural causes. But new research shows how many die from injuries and violence.
Top contributors
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Adjunct Professor of Architecture, University of Technology Sydney
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Emeritus Professor, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney
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Teaching Fellow, Nutrition & Dietetics, Bond University
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Senior Research Assistant Law Health Justice, University of Technology Sydney
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Professor of Human Geography and Planning, University of Tasmania
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Senior Research Fellow (Regional Community Development), Strategic Research Projects, University of Southern Queensland
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Honorary Enterprise Professor, School of Population and Global Health, and Department of General Practice and Primary Care, The University of Melbourne
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Professor of Law, University of Canberra
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Professor of Health Economics, University of Technology Sydney
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Assistant Lecturer, Charles Sturt University
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Professor,Sustainability Research Centre, and Urban Design and Town Planning,, University of the Sunshine Coast
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Senior Lecturer in Urban and Environmental Planning, Griffith University
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Researcher, University of Technology Sydney
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Professor, Director Australian Urban Observatory, Centre for Urban Research, RMIT University
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Professor, Aged Care Medical Research Australian Centre for Evidence Based Aged Care, La Trobe University