A Vision for the future to create sustainable aged care services
The Aged Care Industry Information Technology Council (ACIITC) is urging the Federal Government to consider a one-off investment in information communications technology for the aged services sector as it prepares to meet a rapidly growing demand for care.
The ACIITC is a joint venture between the two industry peak bodies Aged & Community Services Australia (ACSA) and Leading Age Services Australia (LASA).
At least 900,000 Australians will use aged care services this year and these numbers are expected to increase to 1.6 million by 2023.
Patrick Reid, LASA CEO, said Federal funding had enabled pharmacists and general practitioners to upgrade ICT systems, for the benefit of all Australians.
“The IT vision is the blueprint that will underpin the future of sector-wide advances and with innovation the age services industry can take positive steps to meet demands,” Mr Reid said.
“The consequences of not meeting the demand now and in the future is intergenerational pain as families and the community grapple with an increasing cohort of frail elderly people with more complex care needs.”
In its seminal report Caring for Older Australians released in 2011, the Productivity Commission predicted that the aged care workforce would need to grow from 300,000 to 900,000 by 2045.
“A workforce of this size is not achievable,” said Adj Prof John G Kelly AM, ACSA CEO. “However, universal deployment of ICT systems could effectively reduce this predicted growth to comfortably justify the investment.
“Providers are always looking for better ways to manage their workforce to give the highest quality care to some of Australia’s most vulnerable people, our elderly who need care. IT investment maximises the opportunity for innovation in the way services are delivered.
“UP to 80% of services will be delivered directly to people in their homes in the future and this environment provides the opportunity to maximise cost effective investments in ICT systems.”
The IT Vision will be launched by the Minister for Social Services, the Hon Kevin Andrews at Parliament House on Monday, 3 March at 11.30am
Kenn Wheatland, 82, from Wollongong is part of a home-based health monitoring program and will be available at the launch for interviews
More information is available here: http://aciitc.com.au/it-vision/
Media contacts: Justine Caines (LASA) 0408 210 273 Margot Date (ACSA) 0407 485 907