SAP103 Important Aspects Of Aged Care Act Essay Assessment 3 Answer

Answer :

Essay: Aged care Act of 1997

Introduction

Elderly people are an integral part of society. Approximately 15% of Australia's population is above 65 years of age. This percentage of the aged population is predicted to reach approximately 22.5% by 2050 (McPake & Mahal, 2017). It is essential for their well-being, to take care of their rights and responsibilities. Old age is associated with mental and physical determination and increasing risk of diseases. Some of the common medical conditions in older age are vision-related, hearing loss, orthopaedic problems, diabetes, pulmonary and cardiac issues. Furthermore, as people age, these conditions tend to worsen (WHO, 2018). With the severe deterioration in health, elderly people require proper care for their holistic wellbeing (Jaul & Barron, 2017). Thus, governments and health organizations are focusing on elderly care and well-being. The elderly care providers are regulated by certain rules to ensure the utmost care for aged people. This is worth mentioning that the elderly population places pressure on society (Cubit & Meyer, 2011). Health care organizations and providers abide by various rules. One of the important welfare laws is the Aged Care Act 1997. ("Aged Care (Transitional Provisions) Act 1997", 2020) Some of the important aspects of this law are discussed in this essay.

Discussion

The Aged Care Act 1997 is the fundamental law that regulates government-funded aged care services. The Act covers various aspects like approval, funding, subsidies to care providers, regulation, quality of care, rights of people receiving care, and non-compliance. The Australian Government is the leading player in funding and regulation. Aged care is mainly focused on imparting help to elderly people who need support in their livings and needs. These services and laws are related to people who are 65 years and above (for Indigenous Australians aged 50 and over). The places for providing care can be homes, community places, and residential facilities. The prime motto of this law is to ensure that quality care is rendered to the senior citizens with respect and dignity. The main principles that come under the Aged Care Act are: Accountability Principles 2014, Aged Care (Transitional Provisions) Principles, Allocation Principles 2014, Approval of Care Recipients Principles 2014, Approved Provider Principles 2014, Classification Principles 2014, Committee Principles 2014, Complaints Principles 2014, Extra Service Principles 2014, Fees and Payments Principles 2014, Grant Principles 2014, Information Principles 2014, Quality of Care Principles 2014, Records Principles 2014, Sanctions Principles 2014, Subsidy Principles 2014, and User Rights Principles 2014. ("Aged care laws in Australia", 2020) 

The aged care providers abide by the principles included in the Aged Care Act 1997 to receive subsidies from the Australian Government. (Australian Government, Aged care quality and safety commission, 2020). Under this Act, The Australian Government regulates services like home care, residential care, and flexible care. It also includes home support and Indigenous flexible care. All these principles set operational protocol and minimum standards for imparting aged care. Some of the essential standards contained in the Act are safety, health, and level of care for aged people. These laws also impart light on the critical aspects like situations in which the care recipient is approved for home care or flexible care. The application process, subsidies, location, and allocation of aged care services is also discussed in the principles (ABLIS, 2020). The complete protocol and requirements to avail the grants, accreditation, and certification are also delineated in the law. Lastly, and most necessarily, it discusses the responsibilities of service providers to ensure the care and rights of the elderly. 

The world is witnessing a demographic revolution called global ageing, and data suggest that in the last fifty years, people aged 65 and above; have approximately tripled. The Australian Bureau of Statistics depicts that by 2064, there will be 9.6 million people aged 65 and above (AHHB, 2016). Thus it becomes imperative to focus on elderly care and providing proper health and medical facilities to the aged people. The aged care facilities need to follow professional standards and ethics by abiding by the various principles of the Aged Care Act. (Aged care laws in Australia, 2020). The foremost ethical standards include respect for autonomy, dignity, justice, beneficence, and non-maleficence for people who are receiving care. The other important consideration while providing the services is that senior citizens are witnessing dawn in their life, and they have the right to live with dignity (AHHB, 2016). Though Government is taking suitable measures to maintain the quality of aged care as per set quality standards and it is the responsibility of service providers to provide the aged care in an ethical way, but there are specific incidences which reflects the lack the adequate personal care, negligence, and abuse in an aged care home (Sarah, 2018). It is found that in elderly centres, most of the Australians are provided with superior care services which comply with the set standards by the governments.   

There are eight Aged Care Quality Standards which regulated the ethical and professional behaviour of aged care providers (Aged care quality standards, 2020). The government-funded aged care service providers are monitored by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission. The standard one is a primary standard and focuses on the sense of identity of the receiver.  It highlights the importance of choices, well-being, and independence of the aged people.  The second standard focuses on the protocol, to optimize the plan care, and services for the consumers. The third and fourth standards relate to Quality of Care Principles and focus on safe personal and clinical care, and daily living support and well-being of the aged people, respectively. Standard five is about the physical service environment of the service centre. It includes crucial aspects like the environment of residential care, home care, respite care, and therapy centres. The environment should be safe, comfortable, and healthy for aged people (Aged care quality and safety commission, 2020). 

Standard six is an important ethical and professional aspect and focuses on complaint resolving. It states the organizations must be accessible, fair, and prompt. The system should focus on improving themselves by addressing feedback and complaint.  The seventh standard highlights the importance of a skilled and qualified workforce. It is a primary duty of the service provider to employ skilled workers to deliver quality care which is in harmony with the Aged Care Quality Standards, 2018. The last standard is related to the governance of the service centres and is in accord with the Aged Care Quality Standards, 2018.

The principles and standards mentioned in the Aged Care Act are immensely significant in providing quality care and services to the elderly. These laws are playing a pivotal role in rendering care to aged people with respect and dignity. ("Aged care laws in Australia", 2020)

Conclusion

It is expected that the population aged above 60 will be about 2 billion by 2050. With the demographic changes, there is a remarkable change in old-age services. There are urgent requirements of old aged care to be taken by experienced professionals working in this field.  In old age care, ethics and professional practice standards play an essential role. Old age care requires care under good ethics where respect to autonomy, beneficence, and justice are maintained. This Act is the vital law in Australia which covers the old age care funded by Government. It is also expected that care of old age in government-funded aged care centres must be according to meet the fulfilment of set practice standards. The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission perform the activities like monitoring the services of aged care providers as per set quality standards.