LASA Says Government has Abandoned People with Dementia

[caption id="attachment_8406" align="alignright" width="133"] Patrick Reid[/caption]
Australia’s largest peak body for age services, Leading Age Services Australia (LASA), says the cessation of the Dementia and Severe Behaviours Supplement was made without industry consultation and is a huge blow to the provision of essential services to those living with the most severe and debilitating symptoms of dementia.
“The Minister cites the reason for ceasing the supplement as a budget blow-out that has been known since August 2013; this action represents the Government turning its back on Australia’s most vulnerable people, their families and the industry that provides specialist quality care 24 hours a day.
“What now for aged care providers who have followed a government mandated process, made appropriate assessments and staffed or modified their facilities accordingly in the belief that funding was adequately provisioned by the Department?” said LASA CEO Patrick Reid.
“Does the Minister and Department believe that the severe symptoms of residents with dementia will stop with the cessation of the supplement? The removal of this funding will cause clients, families and staff dealing with severe dementia unnecessary angst and distress.”
Mr Reid said the need for the additional funding to provide for specialised care of older Australians living with dementia is absolutely critical, and has previously been identified as a gap in current funding models.
“What advice does Minister Fifield have for providers on how they will fund care and services that have been demonstrated as needed; care and services that the government themselves have identified as woefully underfunded?”
“This is a significant loss of funding to the care of older people due to poor modelling by Government which shows a complete lack of oversight; and leaves the industry with no confidence 4 days out from the largest change to legislation of aged care in a generation”.
“As the peak provider body LASA has made repeat warnings to government that such arbitrary removal of funding poses significant fiduciary risk to organisations operating in aged care.”
Minister Fifield, yesterday suggested that this decision came after consultation with the Aged Care Sector Committee, however LASA says this was not the case.
“As a member of that Committee, LASA were briefed on the situation and undertook to provide further advice to the Department – at no stage was the committee consulted on the cessation of the funding.
“Given this vital funding supplement has been ripped out of the sector in complete absence of industry advice or discussion, LASA now asks; how can the community and providers have any certainty around Government decisions on critical issues for older Australians?”
The Dementia and Severe Behaviours funding cut comes on the back of a $653 million loss in the recent Budget from the removal of the aged care Payroll Tax Supplement. This week Minister Fifield has also questioned the ‘sustainability’ of a supplement for providers who have renewed and upgraded their facilities.
Mr Reid said LASA predicts this is another funding source under considerable threat.
“The current funding environment in age services is perilous; LASA, on behalf of its members will continue to hold the Government to account on its role in any compromise in care and services”