GOVERNMENT NEWS | home
Aged care lacking
The Daily Telegraph
14jan02
DOCTORS want an urgent review of medical treatment delivery in nursing homes and hostels before the first flood of baby boomers arrive in 10 years' time.
The Australian Society for Geriatric Medicine said the current regime did not ensure complex medical needs were met.
In a report published today in the Australasian Journal on Ageing, the 400-strong society of geriatric medicine GPs said the regular doctor round was not good enough, and the residents classification scale (RCS) rewarded poor health.
"Medical services for people in residential aged care has been a neglected field from all perspectives, including government and departmental policy development, general practice initiatives, data collection, research and clinical guideline development," the report said.
Under the RCS, aged care facilities receive subsidies based on where residents fall within categories of care needs.