Election 2016
AGED care providers have welcomed statements by Greens Senator Rachel Siewert and independent Senator Nick Xenophon supporting a reversal of budget cuts to aged care.
The statements follow an admission from ALP leader Bill Shorten that he did not plan to reverse the cuts if the ALP won the July election.
Senator Siewert said providers and residents across the country had raised concerns about the $1.6 billion cut from the Aged Care Funding Instrument in the 2015-16 and 2016-17 budgets.
"Changes to the complex health care domain will impact on people suffering from chronic pain, degenerative diseases, severe arthritis and complex wounds," she said.
"The sector has also raised concerns about the lack of consultation and transparency in the cuts.
"These concerns highlight the need for a full cost of care study, which the sector has long been calling for.
"An ad hoc tightening of the ACFI is about government saving money, not genuine reform.
"The Greens propose to halt the cut and call on the government to undertake a proper review process."
Aged and Community Services Australia chief executive John Kelly said the Senators' opposition to the budget measures offered a much-needed lifeline to aged care providers.
"The Senators understand that real reform is essential when we are talking about funding the care and support of frail older people when they need it most," he said.
"A proper examination of how much it actually costs to deliver care is essential.
"A study of the cost of care and a model for sustainable funding would allow the sector the opportunity to have a real long-term plan for stability and growth, both of which are lacking in the current environment, where sudden and unannounced cuts to funding are causing instability in the sector and for those we care for.
"It's time for the care and support of older people to be a national priority."
The ray of hope came as more than 1000 people called the National Aged Care Phone-In on Saturday to answer survey questions on their experience of aged care.
"Family members, residents and friends are overwhelmingly saying that there is already inadequate staff to care for their loved ones in aged care properly," the Australian Nurses and Midwives Federation reported during the phone-in day.
The survey is open online until 5pm today June 21 at www.icareandivote.com.au