workforce
New CEDA findings cite workforce shortages as the main reason for beds in aged care homes sitting empty .
Running on empty
Aged care beds sitting empty due to workforce shortages
By Arshmah Jamal
The need for workforce reform is dire , as aged-care beds nationwide are empty despite long waiting lists , the Committee for Economic Development of Australia ( CEDA ) reported . In early October , CEDA ’ s Duty of care : Aged-care sector running on empty report was released , which found many homes were operating under capacity due to worker shortages – with some as low as 50 per cent capacity .
This means that many aged-care patients are being kept in hospitals , particularly in rural areas , because of the lack of available beds .
CEDA found at least 18 aged care homes closed or are due to close by the end of this year , with most noting staffing shortages as the reason .
The report concluded the increased mandatory staffing hours were contributing to the situation .
Chief economist of CEDA Cassandra Winzar , said staffing changes were important to increase the quality of care .
“ Not enough had been done to fix this ,” Ms Winzar said .
“ These staffing changes are important to increase the quality of care for older Australians , but they are adding pressure on providers already struggling to maintain their workforces ,
and come on top of growing demand for home-care services .”
“ There must be more action from the government to make meaningful progress on closing this workforce gap .”
A government spokesperson told The Australian that “ older Australians want to stay at home longer ”, which is why there was more funding for homecare packages – with the basic subsidy raised by 11.9 per cent in July of this year .
The spokesperson also responded by backing the funding of $ 11.3bn to increase pay for the workers .
The CEDA report highlighted three recommendations to address the worker shortages . These were : recruiting personal-care workers through an “ essential skills visa ”; introducing a user-pays system ; and addressing and prioritising the nationwide housing shortages to allow essential workers to live near their workplace .
“ Funding for the sector , through a mix of increased government and personal contributions , will have to rise to ensure we can provide high-quality care to older Australians ,” Ms Winzar said .
“ Without further action , we will be unable to provide the care the community rightfully expects .”
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Without further action , we will be unable to provide the care the community rightfully expects
Chief of the Aged and Community Care Providers Association ( ACCPA ) Tom Symondson said the report highlighted the urgent need for workforce reform and the vital work of the Aged Care Taskforce .
“ The CEDA report mirrors the issues and solutions we ’ re already discussing ,” Mr Symondson said .
“ We ’ ve been advocating for better education access , improved housing access for care staff – particularly in rural areas – easier migration routes for overseas workers , and direct funding of targeting aged care workforce programs .”
“ The problems will only get worse with an ageing population and as demand spirals .” The Aged-care Task Force is expected to present an interim report in October , with a final report expected at the end of this year .
Mr Symondson , along with 14 other members , is in charge of finding the solutions to the aged care funding crisis . “ This is the first real conversation on aged care funding in two decades , and we need to get it right ,” he said .
“ We have high hopes the task force will deliver the reforms Australia needs .”
“ At the heart of this is improving the lives of older Australians because that ’ s what they deserve .” ■
24 agedcareinsite . com . au