MEDIA RELEASE

Press Release
ATTENTION: AGED CARE,HEALTH AND POLITICAL REPORTERS

15 September 2006

ALLIANCE CALLS FOR CHANGES TO  LONG TERM FINANCING OF AGED CARE

The National Aged Care Alliance (the Alliance) today released their discussion paper titled: A Summary of Options for Long Term Financing of Community and Residential Aged Care.

The Alliance released the paper to promote debate on the future long term financing of community and residential aged care.

According to the Alliance, most Australians are now aware of the enormous impact the ageing of the population will have on our economy and society over the next forty years.

The Alliance recognises the need to develop policies which are sustainable and affordable both to government and individuals, which is fundamental to ensuring that Australians will continue to have access to a world-class system of aged care.

The Hogan Report into Aged Care released in 2004, estimated that if no changes were made to the existing system, there would be a $6 billion financing shortfall by 2022/23.

Urgent change to the way community and residential care is financed is necessary to avoid this outcome.

The Alliance paper lists thirteen options for debate. People with an interest in the future of the Australian aged care system can access the paper by logging on to www.naca.asn.au.

Comments on the paper should be provided to the Alliance secretariat: nacasecretariat@anf.org.au by 31 October 2006.

For further comment:
Glenn Rees, Alzheimers Australia 0419 303 407
Jill Iliffe, ANF 0419 576 590
Greg Mundy, Aged and Community Services Australia 0416 203 065
Rod Young, Aged Care Association Australia 0419 624178

The Alliance membership consists of twenty six representative and peak organisations from across the aged care industry. The members of the Alliance are:
Aged Care Association Australia; Aged and Community Services Australia; Alzheimer's Australia; Anglicare Australia; Australian Association of Gerontology; Australian Council on the Ageing; Australian Divisions of General Practice; Australian Healthcare Association; Australian Medical Association;  Australian Nursing Federation; Australian Physiotherapy Association; Australian Society for Geriatric Medicine; Baptist Care Australia; Carers Australia; Catholic Health Australia;  Diversional Therapy Association of Australia; Geriaction; Health Services Union; Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union; Lutheran Church of Australia; OT Australia;  Pharmacy Guild of Australia; Royal Australian College of General Practitioners; Royal College of Nursing Australia; UnitingCare Australia