First Consumer-Directed Care (CDC) was launched to offer older Australians more choice in their home care packages. Now the same choice and control could soon be on the way for residential aged care.
An Australian Catholic University study into an Australian-first program to help providers offer CDC in aged care facilities found that residents were happier and reported a higher level of wellbeing under the CDC model.
It’s great news. But while the Federal Government has promised to introduce CDC in aged care in the future, there are currently no guidelines for the sector on how to implement it – or what it will cost.
We know that CDC works.
CDC is shown to lower depression rates
Some providers have already invested in offering CDC to their residents in areas such as food and activities – with promising results.
Queensland not-for-profit BallyCara has offered its SONA program (taken from the Gaelic word for ‘happy’) since 2011. Staff find out about residents’ background and history to create a program for each person, with residents setting goals for themselves.
The result? The rate of depression at their Scarborough aged care home is just 17 to 19 per cent – compared to the national average of around 50 per cent for aged care residents – according to a Queensland University of Technology (QUT) study.
BaptistCare also has its ‘YouChoose’ program, currently in home care, which they are now rolling out across their aged care facilities and is designed to help residents keep following their interests.
More investment needed
However the ACU study also showed that there are issues associated with introducing CDC, with staff and organisations struggling to adjust to the change in the care model.
The reality is it takes time and money to implement these training programs – and make sure they work for everyone, operators, staff and residents included.
With an estimated 76,000 aged care beds needed by 2023-24, the Government and industry needs to take action now rather than later.
