ACT LEADS NATION IN AGED CARE ASSESSMENTS

The ACT leads the nation in assessing and caring in the community for older Canberrans according to the 2007 Report on Government Services (ROGS), ACT Minister for Health, Katy Gallagher MLA said today.

The ACT had the highest number of Aged Care Assessments (ACAT) per 1000 people in Australia with 113 per 1000, against a national average of 86.8. This number was made up of people over 70 and indigenous people 50 to 69 years of age.

Ms Gallagher said the ACT also had the highest number of operational community care packages nationally, including Community Aged Care Packages (CACPs), Extended Aged Care at Home (EACH) and EACH Dementia.

The ACT was also above the national provision of Transition Care places with 1.5 places per 1000 people over 70 compared with 0.8 nationally.

“These results demonstrate how committed the ACT Government is to caring for older Canberrans, in an environment where we have the fastest ageing population in the country.”

HACC expenditure for the target group also benchmarked nationally, with the ACT funded at the national average of $823 per person.

“In addition ACAT age specific approvals in the ACT show a higher ratio in the ACT for the 80-84 yrs and 85+ age groups,” she said. “This is in line with other jurisdictions where the higher number of ACAT assessments is in these two age groups.”

“However, the report indicates that in 2007 the ACT had the lowest number of operational residential care beds with 71 places per 1000 persons over 70 years compared to 85.6 nationally.” Ms Gallagher said.

“We have already started to rectify this position.”

“Calvary Health Care has recently opened an additional 100 beds, Goodwin Ainslie will open an additional 28 beds in February/March this year and a major project has just commenced in Belconnen with construction started at Kangara Waters to provide an additional 100 beds.

“In addition, the ACT is improving land allocation and improving the timeliness of planning approvals to allow allocated residential care places to become operational within the two-year timeframe required by the Australian Government.”

Ms Gallagher said the ACT population over 70 years had increased from 22,300 in 2005–06 to 23,000 in 2006–07.