A lack of palliative care beds in Gippsland means terminally ill patients may be missing out on vital early care, a palliative care co-ordinator has warned. Cassandra White reports.
Aged care
Pressure will continue for aged care reform
Most stakeholders have broadly welcomed the recommendations of the government’s Caring for Older Australians report, although concerns have been raised in relation to the capacity of the workforce, writes Rebecca de Boer.
Long-term help wanted. Desperately.
An OECD report on ageing out this week foreshadows that spending on long-term care in OECD countries is set to double, even triple, by 2050, driven by ageing populations, reports Richard Farmer.
Oz taxpayers picking up the tab for UK pensioners
There has never been much public sympathy for the frozen pensioners in the UK. It seems they are envied and imagined to be endlessly sipping sundowners on golf club verandahs, writes Ava Hubble.
healthcare The aged care sector and reform recommendations
The Productivity Commission has released draft recommendations for an overhaul of aged care, and the sector should strongly support this “landmark blueprint”, rather than allowing debate to degenerate into partisan arguments, writes Hal Kendig.
Caring for older Australians: a rethink on funding and facilities
A Productivity Commission draft report into caring for older Australians recommends a rethink on how aged care facilities are funded and how residents pay for their accommodation. Emma Buckley Lennox looks at the submissions.
What do Australians really think of our health system?
Minister Nicola Roxon was quick to trumpet the findings of a recent survey into perceptions of our health system as evidence of supposed widespread support. However, she neglected to mention concerns many people have regarding aged care, writes Melissa Sweet.
Come in Spinner: Sixth time lucky for aged-care communications
The Productivity Commission is starting what will be the sixth major inquiry into aged-care funding — a policy area that has become a no-go area because of poor initial communications, writes Noel Turnbull.
Too big for Japan
Are you too fat for Japan? Concerned about the prospect of an aging nation afflicted with cardiovascular disease and diabetes, Japanese lawmakers have set a maximum waistline size for anyone age 40 and older.
Sparks fly over care for the aged
The aged-care sector is angry with Minister for Ageing Justine Elliot for deciding to “name and shame” them after the federal Government raised the stakes on substandard operators.
Aged care investors brace for impact
Investors in a group of retirement village schemes face an exceedingly difficult choice this week with potentially devastating implications, writes Michael Feller.
Is HRT good or bad? Who do we trust?
Only a fortnight ago, newspaper headlines were telling us that “world experts declare HRT safe for women in early menopause”. This week, it’s been headlines sounding the alarm about the possible links between HRT and breast cancer. What’s right? asks Melissa Sweet.
Geriatric health assessments are a waste of health money
The current scheme for funding GP assessments of the elderly was deemed ineffective, and has blown out its budget by $93.7 million, But the government’s thrown more cash at it in the new budget.
The next Budget leak should be good news for the aged
Aged-care funding needs a more realistic basis, argues Bernard Keane.
Australia Divided: Old v Young
In our continuing series examining the things that divide Australians, today we look at the gap between old and young.
Walt Secord puts a bit of mate into aged care
Given that aged care is such an important and sensitive issue you’d think the federal minister would want advisers with expertise in aged care issues. Apparently not, writes Bernard Keane.
