LCC is part of a national campaign to promote urgent aged care sector reform.

The Australians deserve to age well campaign calls for an end to what is described as stalled aged care reform.

The campaign was officially launched at Parliament House at a breakfast attended by 150 politicians, their staff and representatives of the aged care industry on 9 February.

The campaign is run by the National Aged Care Alliance (NACA), which is made up of almost 30 peak consumer groups, providers, unions and health professionals across the country.

LCC supports the campaign, recognising the importance of stimulating an overhaul of the aged care system to ensure it copes with the needs of our ageing population into the future.

LCC Chief Executive Officer Jacqueline Kelly and Director of Policy, Communication and Innovation Adrian Morgan are representatives of LCC and The Board for Lutheran Aged Care Australia (BLACA) on the NACA campaign.

Adrian said Age well broadly supports the directions of the Productivity Commission’s final report Caring for Older Australians in 2011.  

“The report recommends comprehensive reform to the aged care sector to provide a system which is more simple, fair, affordable and equitable for all Australians,” he said. 

“Urgent changes are needed and we want to see a commitment from the government to provide a significant funding contribution.”

NACA has released a series of papers related to the Age Well campaign on the subject areas such as: assessment and entitlement, financing aged care in Australia, palliative care, quality of care, wellness and the workforce.

The site invites individuals to register online to show their support for the cause and can share stories about their experiences.

Council of the Ageing (COTA) Chief Executive Ian Yates said by 2050, 3.5 million Australians will need aged care services.

“That is a greater than threefold increase on the current load,” he said.

“Yet many older Australians are already struggling to find the services they need to continue to live at home or are on long waiting lists for residential care.

“Just trying to find out where to go for information on aged care is so complicated that even the most educated professionals struggle to work it out.

“Both the government and opposition must commit to implement the Productivity Commission’s recommendations now. We can’t afford to wait any longer.”

Learn more and show your support by visiting www.agewellcampaign.com.au .