Creating sustainable aged care services
Calls for a ‘one off’ investment in information communications technology for the aged services sector, as it prepares to meet a rapidly growing demand for care, has been made by the Aged Care Industry Information Technology Council (ACIITC).
Kenn Wheatland with Minister for Social Services the Hon Kevin Andrews with the IT Vision document.
The ACIITC is a joint venture between the industry peak bodies Aged & Community Services Australia (ACSA) and Leading Age Services Australia (LASA).
Patrick Reid, LASA chief executive, said federal government funding had enabled pharmacists and general practitioners to upgrade ICT systems, for the benefit of all Australians.
“The IT Vision is the blueprint that will underpin the future of sector wide advances and with innovation the aged services industry can take positive steps to meet demands,” Mr Reid said.
“The consequence of not meeting the demand now and in the future is intergenerational pain as families and the community grapple with an increasing cohort of frail elderly people with more complex care needs.”
At least 900,000 Australians will use aged care services this year and these numbers are expected to increase to 1.6 million by 2023.
In its seminal report Caring for Older Australians released in 2011, the Productivity Commission predicted the aged care workforce would need to grow from 300,000 to 900,000 by 2045.
“A workforce of this size is not achievable,” said Adjunct Professor, John G Kelly AM, ACSA chief executive. “However, universal deployment of ICT systems could effectively reduce this predicted growth to comfortably justify the investment.
“Providers are always looking for better ways to manage their workforce to give the highest quality care to some of Australia's most vulnerable people, our elderly who need care. IT investment maximises the opportunity for innovation in the way services are delivered.”
Adjunct Professor Kelly claimed up to 80% of services would be delivered directly to people in their homes in the future, with the opportunity to maximise cost effective investments in ICT systems.
Eighty two year old, Kenn Wheatland, from Wollongong, is part of a home based health monitoring program, and is pictured here with Minister for Social Services, the Hon Kevin Andrews, with the IT Vision document prepared for the ACIITC.
