Response to the Assistive Technologies and Home Modifications Scheme for in-home aged care paper
OPAN strongly supports the government’s plans for a separately funded aids and equipment scheme to enable older people to live safely and independently in their own homes.
Assistive technology – such as walking frames and accessible cooking appliances – can reduce, or even remove, the need for in-home care.
Home modifications – including step modifications and internal handrails – can prevent unnecessary hospital admissions and decrease the likelihood of an older person entering residential aged care.
In our official response, OPAN urges the Australian Government to include the far-reaching social and financial benefits of its Assistive Technologies and Home Modifications Scheme in its investment calculations.
And to include an explicit human rights framework to ensure equitable access for older people.
While the new scheme supports older people who are ineligible for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), it stops short of delivering the same services, aids and equipment that are available under the NDIS.
In other news
This month, OPAN released the full suite of #ReadyToListen resources in collaboration with Celebrate Ageing Ltd and the Older Women’s Network, NSW. You can explore the resources here.
We are pleased to launch the second video in OPAN’s Your stories series, in which older people tell us how advocates help them to resolve their aged care issues. Hear from Graeme now.
This was originally published in The National Advocate, our monthly e-newsletter packed with the latest aged care advocacy news, events, and resources. Subscribe today.
