Good News On Direct Family Input Into Aged Care Packages?

PWF reported earlier this year on George Vassilou’s long battle with Government over consumer-directed care for aged relatives.

In October’s The Senior George says he now believes the Minister for Ageing, Justine Elliot, will soon make an announcement on allowing direct family input into government-funded caring packages.

George’s Care Model

George won a three-year battle with the Department of Health and Ageing to personally control his mother’s EACH (Extended Aged Care at Home) dementia package and he believes this model should be available to all interested in family-based care.

By reducing the need for a service provider to take its cut in administration, case management and contingency costs, George saved about $33,000, which he was able to spend on face-to-face care for his mother.

The entire package of about $48,000 would have only produced about 15 hours a week of care for his mother if it had been administered by an accredited service provider.

Twelve months ago when people heard what George had achieved there was a huge flood of interest.

The Current Situation

• George has the impression there are no legal reasons preventing providers adopting the consumer-directed care model
• George has asked the Minister if she will put out a directive to providers allowing family care-givers or individuals the option of using this model…he has received no comment yet
• One stumbling block is coming from the providers who are dragging the chain believing they will lose out.

Everyone A Winner

George says everyone will win because administration costs will decrease, which will:

• free up money to allow workers to increase hours
• individuals would get increased quality and quantity of care allowing them to stay at home longer
• the above would mean the government gets more value for its dollar

The Senior article says there is a discussion paper on this issue on the Aged and Community Care Australia website – www.agedcare.org.au – under Hot Topics and George can be contacted by email at gvass@bigpond.net.au

Well done George – keep going…