Living Longer Living Better is a package of Australian Government reforms aimed at building a fairer, equitable and transparent aged care system. Reforms are being progressively implemented to ensure the system:
- is sustainable and affordable
- offers choice and flexibility
- encourages businesses to invest and grow
- provides diverse and rewarding career options.
A big part of the changes is the move towards consumer-directed care so people have greater choice in determining what how care needs are provided and care will be based on needs.
Key changes are:
- Means testing for aged care is based on income for home care and on combined income and assets for residential care. Centrelink assesses income and assets, similar to assessment for the aged care pension.
- All new residents of aged care facilities will be assessed for their eligibility to pay an accommodation payment now the distinction between low and high care is removed.
- Providers will no longer be able to deduct retention amounts from lump sum accommodation payments.
For more information about the reforms visit the Department of Social Services' Ageing and Aged Care web page.
See videos from StudioQ related to this topic