Garden Village Welcomes New Aged Care Act Announcements
Garden Village Port Macquarie is pleased to acknowledge the Australian Government’s announcement today regarding the new Aged Care Act which has finally secured bipartisan support and will be introduced to parliament. This landmark legislation represents a significant step forward in reforming the aged care sector to better serve older Australians.
This news is welcomed as the Mid North Coast faces a rapidly growing population of residents over 70, placing increased pressure on existing aged care, hospital and health services. The new Aged Care Act aims to address many of the recommendations from the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.
A welcome announcement is the government’s significant investment in Support at Home. Garden Village knows many older vulnerable Australians have been waiting too long, in many cases 12 months, to receive essential home care packages. The anticipated reduction in wait times is expected to have a significant positive impact on the quality of life for many seniors in our community.
Craig Wearne, CEO of Garden Village, commented: “The Support at Home reforms will allow us to reach more seniors in need, ensuring they receive the care they deserve without unnecessary delays. Our Home Care team is well-positioned to expand our services and support more local residents in their homes.”
Mr Wearne added, “many older people waiting for home care packages suffer a significant event at home, requiring hospital admission negatively impacting the older person, and the community. These changes will proactively help people safely remain in their own home”
For Residential Aged Care, the legislation will include enhanced protections to ensure that people are only asked to contribute if they can genuinely afford to do so. Garden Village is one of only a few services that welcome people of low means and although co-contribution of funds is important to the sustainability of the sector, Garden Village is proud to reaffirm its commitment to providing accessible aged care services, particularly for those of limited financial means.
While residential aged care is required by only a small percentage of older Australians—approximately 4.4% of older Australians nationwide—it remains a crucial service for those who need it most. Garden Village recognizes the importance of maintaining this essential care option for our local community.
The Port Macquarie-Hastings region has one of the highest proportions of residents aged 75 and over in New South Wales. With this demographic expected to double as we move closer to the year 2040, the need for comprehensive aged care reform is more critical than ever.
With bipartisan support announced today, we can ensure that the Mid North Coast continues to be a desirable, supportive and age friendly community for older Australians to age in place. Garden Village will carefully review the details of the new legislation to keep our residents, families, and staff informed.
Additional items in the new Aged Care Act include:
- Strengthened rights and protections for aged care recipients
- A new regulatory framework to enhance quality and safety standards
- Improved transparency and accountability measures for providers
- Greater support for the aged care workforce
