17,000 new age care homes worth $910 million to rise in Australia

Because of a substantial hike in funding for aged care services, 17,385 new homes for the elderly would be built in Australia. The additional funding from the results of the 2015 Aged Care Approvals Round (ACAR) and new arrangements for the 2016 ACAR reached $910 million.

Thousands of older Australians are expected to benefit as the federal government builds 10,940 new residential places worth $678.3 million and funds 6,445 home care places worth $232.4 million. Minister for Aged Care Sussan Ley explains in a press release, “These new home care places help our elderly remain in their own home and receive the care they need, which is particularly important for anyone with high-level needs.”

There is another $67 million in capital grants across Australia that would assist age care place providers establish new services or upgrade existing facilities. That is the last ACAR for home care places because by February 2017, funding would follow the consumer, not the provider. That means residents could choose the care that fits their individual needs and funding would be directed to that provider.

Ken Wyatt, assistant minister for health and aged care, says that the ACAR funding changes is to give in to what citizens prefer which is greater choice and control over the care they get, leading the Turnbull government to create exactly that. He adds that the government would start entertaining applications for the 2016 new round in June.

The government would also begin to introduce short-term restorative care programme. The eight-week programme is designed together with the care recipient, providing re-ablement and restorative care services in a home setting, residential setting or combination of the two.