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Care Assess is the leading RAS across Tasmania. We fundamentally believe in the reform agenda recommended by the Productivity Commission in its Caring for Older Australian’s report and the subsequent reforms that were initiated by the Labor government and now continued by the Liberal government. We believe that these reforms (including the recent changes to My Aged Care) can deliver improved wellbeing for older people, particularly though:

• improved access to information;
• consistency of service access; and
• a system wide approach to wellness and reablement.

As one of our highest priorities, Care Assess’ RAS wellness assessors are focusing upon providing reablement assessment and supports, including referral into restorative care services where appropriate, for all clients who can and should benefit from this.

We are very keen to continue working closely with service providers and encourage organisations to contact us directly regarding any referrals and assessments you have questions about. You can email rasintake@careassess.com.au or just pick up the phone!

The gap between reform and reality is is closing. We are committed to continually improving aspects of the system over which we have control or the capacity to influence. We all, as broader stakeholders within the Aged Care System, have a responsibility to continue identifying, raising and raising again, the areas for improvement in the new system and striving to be agents of change ourselves.

We are three and a half years into a 10 year reform agenda and it will shortly be 12 months until February 2017, the next major step in our reform journey. It’s important that we all work together to ensure that the strategic vision of the My Aged Care gateway programme is realized so that the planned reforms of the coming years have every chance of success.

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Greater comfort. Many elderly patients report that in-home care offers a greater level of comfort. While most medical facilities undoubtedly offer high-level care, there is nothing quite as wonderful as being able to maintain the comforts you love in old age. After all, there is nothing quite like enjoying your favourite TV program in your favourite chair or looking out at the backyard where your children once played from your kitchen window. These simple pleasures are comforts that no one should have to give up, even as one’s health declines. As excellent as many medical facilities are, they simply can’t replace the comfort and privacy of your own home.

Individualised, one-on-one care. In medical facilities, such as nursing homes and assisted living facilities, health care providers must simultaneously care for dozens if not hundreds of patients. In contrast, in-home health care providers only have one patient to provide for at a time. This results in higher-quality care that is specifically tailored to individual preferences and needs.

Affordability. In-home care can oftentimes be much more affordable than putting an elderly loved one in a medical facility. The cost of medically certified in-home health aids does vary based on a variety of different factors; however, in most cases the hourly cost is somewhere between $25 and $45. In many cases, this is significantly more affordable than a nursing home, which costs on average $248 a day or upward of $90,000 per year.

Greater family support and participation. When an elderly patient is able to receive medical care in his or her own home, it facilitates greater family support of and participation in care. For many aging citizens, the experience of being moved to a medical facility can be a socially isolating one, especially if the facility is far away from the homes of the individual’s family and friends. In-home care can help to maintain precious family bonds.

To find out more about in-home care, visit our Programs and Services page or give us a call on 1300 393 812.

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1. Everyone needs care after a major operation or serious illness. Most patients require some kind of follow-up care after leaving the hospital. This follow-up care is designed to prevent infection, ensure proper pain management, and mitigate the risk of any kind of complications. All in all, the goal of post acute care is to keep every patient healthy so that he or she stays out of the hospital.

2. There is no universal post acute care plan. Every situation is different, and every patient faces unique health care challenges. Therefore, there is no one singular model of post acute care. Rather, an effective post acute care plan will take into consideration a range of patient specific factors, including age, the severity of the illness or surgical procedure from which the patient is recovering, overall wellness levels, etc.

3. Post acute care can be provided while a patient remains in his or her home. Most forms of post acute care, including wound care, rehabilitation therapy, and pain management, can be provided to a patient in his or her own home. This can maximise the comfort and security of the patient while also helping to integrate family members into caregiving roles, ensuring familial involvement and support.

4. Home health post acute care is the most cost effective. Though post acute care can occur in a nursing home, medical rehabilitation facility, or assisted living facility, a recent study of post acute care for elderly Medicare beneficiaries showed that home health post acute care was more cost effective than post acute care carried out is nursing home or rehabilitation facilities.

To find out more, visit our Care Assess Post Acute Program information page or give us a call on 1300 393 812.

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