The demise of Allied Health Care for Aged Care

The new Australian National Aged Care Classification (AN-ACC) scheduled to be introduced in October 2022 will see nursing home residents potentially missing out on physiotherapy and allied health services, which are vital for their care and families may have to pay for these services themselves.
 

Lead physiotherapist and CEO AAC Health Group including AAC Allied Aged Care, Alwyn Blayse wants to ensure that mums, dads, partners and family members living in nursing homes will continue to receive professional physiotherapy and allied health services after October 2022. Residents currently receiving physiotherapy and an allied health service are helped to manage their pain, prevent falls, continue to be mobile and maintain or improve their quality of life.

“The need for allied health services for the aged is well established by professional and medical associations, community feedback, research by government agencies, authors of the new funding model (AN-ACC), as well the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety (01 March 2021).

The lack of allied health in nursing homes may affect the entire health system, with Nursing Home residents prone to more falls, pressure injuries, as well as an increase of pain medication and associated side effects.

This may lead to more (previously) preventable hospital admissions causing more stress and cost to the resident, families, nurses and nursing homes and our hospital system, as well as taxpayers." he said.

The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety’s Final Report: Care, Dignity and Respect (1st March 2021) states that Allied health care in residential aged care is insufficient and recommends more time for residents, not less.

In evidence given by Mr Blayse to the Senate about lack allied health and the need for more time was supported by Palliative Care Australia CEO, Camilla Rowland, Aged and community services CEO Paul Sadler and Leading Aged Care Services CEO Sean Rooney.

AAC Health Group including AAC Allied Aged Care is calling for separate, dedicated funding for physiotherapy and other allied health professionals in nursing home facilities, ensuring residents receive at least 20 minutes per day after October 2022 with individualised allied health professional treatments provided only by university-qualified and AHPRA registered physiotherapists, occupational therapists, exercise physiologists, dietitians, speech pathologists, social workers, osteopaths, chiropractors, podiatrists, and psychologists.

He believes the 20 minutes should not come out of already mandated nursing care time and is also requesting that the allied health professional’s treatments be individualised sessions rather than group sessions and should not be provided by other therapists such as lifestyle coordinators, music therapists, and therapy assistants.

AAC Health Group including AAC Allied Aged Care has initiated a Senate Petition and is calling on families and members of the public to join their campaign for increased care time not less. Details of their petition can be found on Change.org (Senate petition to ensure physiotherapy and allied health for nursing home residents).

For more information visit: www.alliedagedcare.com.au/doac

ENDS

Lead physiotherapist and CEO AAC Health Group including AAC Allied Aged Care, Alwyn Blayse is available for further comment.

Please contact: Operations Manager Marie-Louise Willis

Tel: 1300 574 462

Email: operationsmanager@alliedagedcare.com.au

If you need any further assistance, please email

Communications: Karen Bracher karen@aachealthgroup.com.au