THE delivery of high quality and safe care to older people in their homes and in the community will be the focus of a Royal Commission hearing this week.
The virtual hearing begins today and runs until Wednesday.
The commissioners will examine how the fundamental tenet of choice or self-directed care can be successfully implemented in delivering safe, high quality home care.
Associate Professor Lee-Fay Low from the University of Sydney, Susan Emerson from the Australian College of Nursing, and Dr Carmel Laragy from the University of Melbourne will address the issue and the capability of providers to deliver care to people with complex needs.
Mable Technologies chief executive Peter Scutt will give evidence about the use by older people of an online platform for sourcing and connecting with aged care workers.
The commissioners will hear from a number of providers about their employment and engagement models.
Centre for Future Work director Dr Jim Stanford, and RMIT Senior Research Fellow Dr Fiona Macdonald will give evidence about the impacts of employment and engagement arrangements for the home care workforce.
Evidence will also be given about the labour law implications for any modes of engagement or employment relationships. The commissioners will examine whether there is a link between employment and engagement arrangements for home care workers and quality and safety of care.
NSW Ageing and Disability Commissioner Robert Fitzgerald will give evidence about how appropriate safeguards can be put in place for people receiving care in their own homes.
The commissioners will also hear about safeguards and the regulation of home care services in the Netherlands from Professor Jos Schols in an effort to establish what regulatory and safeguarding arrangements are necessary and appropriate in Australia to ensure safe, high quality care.
The hearing will also look at whether statutory entitlements to extended leave and flexible working arrangements are a feasible option to support family and friends of older people to provide care to their loved ones at home.
The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commissioner and witnesses from the federal Department of Health will also appear.
Proceedings can be followed on the live webcast on the Royal Commission website HERE.
