The financial performance of the Australian aged care sector is deteriorating, according to the latest report from consultants in the sector, StewartBrown.
“The financial performance of the aged care sector continues to experience significant challenges due to the systemic decline in profitability in both the residential care and home care segments,” the report states.
For the three months to 31 March 2019, more than 45 per cent of aged care facilities operated at a loss before tax, an increase on last year’s rate of just over 43 per cent.
“The Mar-18 financial results for the sector again highlight that the current funding model remains under significant strain,” the report says.
“The underlying year-on-year results for both residential care and home care indicate a declining financial performance, as does the comparison with the FY18 annual results.”
Aged care facilities in regional centres are experiencing “significant financial concerns”, according to the report, with 67 percent recording a loss before tax.
“Mandating additional staffing costs” in regional areas could have significant “financial implications”, the report commented.
The report claims unspent home care funds is the “biggest single issue” for home care.
Almost $600 million of unspent funds are currently on the books of approved home care providers.
“We view with concern the prospect of continued growth in Unspent Funds, and many probable instances of their use for capital-related expenditure for care recipients (probably for a short-term benefit in many instances),” the report says.
“A more effective utilisation of Unspent Funds would be the funding of more home care packages. This would help to cut the time that newly-approved care recipients spend on the wait list.”
Home care waiting lists are one of the most visible and serious problems for the Australian aged care sector, with more than 180,000 people sitting on waiting lists for home care.
Other highlights of the report include:
“The overall funding arrangements for aged care require considerable adjustment,” the report concludes.
“Residential aged care is under-funded, both from a government and consumer perspective.
“Consumers should be provided with more education and related data to understand the real costs of providing aged care services, including the cost of accommodation for residential aged care, and accordingly, the requirement that consumers co-contribute to the cost of care delivery where financially able to.”
The overall funding for home care is “not being fully utilised”, the report concludes, recommending “it may be preferable to broaden the funding so that it is available to more care recipients, rather than necessarily increasing the aggregate funding subsidy.”
The StewartBrown report is based on responses to the firm’s ‘Aged Care Financial Performance Survey’, which encompasses 183 aged care providers, 952 residential aged care facilities, and 26,180 home care packages.
Approximately 40% of Australia’s aged care facilities are included in the survey.
I have found the whole Aged Care system confusing with people telling you one thing BUT the reality is entirely another. There should be a standard letter sent out to everyone that is approved explaining EACH and every step along the way NOT just a letter saying here are your numbers but NO explanation of what to do with them except HAND WRITTEN notes saying there is no funding to utilise. I have personally found and CHALLENGED the Dept of Health OT charges and have asked for a breakdown of the cost of the items, cost of labour PLUS the ADMIN Fees to be clearly shown on the invoice for FULL DISCLOSURE to be told that this is not possible. When they are charging $125 to adjust a wire door closer which in the guys own words would “ONLY Take a FEW MINUTES” I was told that Labour charges were $75ph. NO Parts were needed so in that case even allowing 10minutes to adjust it – is $12.50 for labour leaving $112.50 for ADMIN charges?????
Zarnie, did you even read the above letter, it was clearly and accurately describing the underfunding of residential care and also pointed out a couple of anomalies in the home care sector.
Your concerns about the cost of adjusting a screen door (from money not yours) or that you struggled with the means test or finding a provider misses the point of the article.
The liberal government has overseen the destruction of residential care, they took money from proven care suppliers to create a new home care system that has exhausted funds, been filled with torts and overcharging and under servicing from the get go.
The story tells of an industry in crisis and it still astounds me that barely a question was asked in the run up to the election of either party. Why not? Did the government put a gag on the media? I can see no other answer unless the media in general simply doesn’t believe the numbers?