Tanya Davison, Swinburne University of Technology and Sunil Bhar, Swinburne University of Technology
A new review looks at whether psychological therapies, such as cognitive behavioural therapy, are an effective way to treat older people in aged care with symptoms of depression.
Rather than bold reforms that will safeguard Australians’ aged care services into the future, the taskforce largely recommends tidying up and keeping the status quo. And getting users to pay more.
A government-instituted Aged Care Taskforce has recommended older Australians should pay more of the cost of their aged care, while steering clear of politically fraught options.
Australia’s aged care system is undergoing significant change, but is still governed by an act more than 25 years old. Can the government meet its mid-year deadline for the next round of reforms?
Scientists have published the first evidence that Alzheimer’s can be transmitted from person to person. Patients received human growth hormone from the tissue of donated brains.
Currently, when someone turns 65 they are not eligible to apply for NDIS support, even if they had disability before then. We asked experts if that should change.
In future, Australia will spend much more on aged care. This increased spending needs to be well planned, so access is protected and all older people – regardless of income – get the care they need.
Health care has traditionally focused on prescribing medications, with little focus on when to stop them. But pills and potions can add up over time and do more harm than good.
The report, to be released in full on Thursday, puts the number of people 65 and over at about nine million by the early 2060s – from nearly 4.4 million in the 2021 census
A social insurance model would use compulsory contributions from worker salaries to cover the cost of aged care services. But it’s not a silver bullet to fix our aged-care funding crisis.
When Doris Taylor became paralysed, her mother was advised to put her in a Home for Incurables. Instead, Doris helped elect a reforming South Australian premier and founded a national institution.
One proposal to fund the rising costs of aged care is a Medicare-style levy. However, this seemingly neat solution isn’t the answer to our aged care funding problems. Here’s why.
Aged care is one of the government’s biggest ongoing funding challenges. But for a sustainable system, we need to ensure everyone is paying their fair share. Here’s how to make it more equitable.
This is an important and complex decision. It can affect your income, wealth, means-tested aged care fee, and bequests. Here are some things to consider before you decide.
Honorary Enterprise Professor, School of Population and Global Health, and Department of General Practice and Primary Care, The University of Melbourne