September 2019
AHPA’s submission to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety provides feedback to the Terms of Reference with a focus on allied health service delivery for consumers in residential aged care homes.
Allied health care has an important role in maintaining the overall health and wellbeing of older people, while also preventing health deterioration and hospitalisation. Unfortunately, access to allied health services is inconsistent and a low priority for both funders and aged care providers. This is a major issue for older Australians and despite significant work on aged care reforms, there is a real risk that integration of and access to allied health services in aged care will remain in adequate.