National Approach Needed for the Health Care of Older People

Main Category: Seniors / Aging
Article Date: 30 Jun 2004 - 9:00 PDT


American Medical Association (AMA) Vice President, Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, said today that Australia needs a national health framework for the care of older people, which covers all settings where aged care is provided.

Speaking at the launch of the National Aged Care Alliance (NACA) Election Kit, Dr Haikerwal said health services and aged care services need to be linked so that older people can move easily between the different elements of the care environment.

"As it stands, the health and aged care needs of many older Australians are not being properly met in any setting - not in hospital, not in aged care homes or in their own homes," Dr Haikerwal said.

"There is a particular need for additional community and transitional care.

"Many thousands of Australians are trapped in the wrong environment for the type of care they need.

"Older Australians deserve better.

"Since its formation four years ago, NACA has become a strong single voice for older Australians, made up of 23 organisations committed to the care of older people.

"The National Aged Care Summit, jointly hosted by the AMA and our partners in NACA, held in Melbourne earlier this year, identified aged care as a specific health care issue," Dr Haikerwal said.

To help get the link right between aged care and health, NACA is calling for:

-- The introduction of a national strategic framework for the health care of older people covering all settings where care services are provided,

-- The development of best practice care pathways and guidelines to be developed and introduced across the acute, community and residential aged care settings to cover a range of areas and conditions,

-- A common clinical assessment process, to be introduced for use across the continuum of care regardless of where care is being provided,

-- A network of health coordinators to be appointed to work closely with nurses, general practitioners, medical specialists, pharmacists and allied health staff to ensure the effective integration of both the common assessment process and the best practice care pathways and guidelines.

-- �The Alliance and its members, including the AMA, will be taking a strong message to all candidates in the coming election to get aged care right,� Dr Haikerwal said.

Australian Medical Association

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