Age care lessons Australian should learn from other countries
Peter Scutt is the CEO and Founder of Better Caring, an online platform where people with a disability, or those who are ageing, can find and hire local care and support workers.
The Australian aged care sector is set to experience a period of major change, with new regulatory reforms around Consumer Directed Care rolled out on February 27. At the same time, business models are evolving to reimagine care services for the broader community in response to the shift in focus towards living well and staying at home for longer.
In 2015, there were 3.6 million Australians over the age of 65, and half a million over 85. By 2055, these numbers will significantly rise, with 8.9 million Australians over the age of 65, and two million over 85.
In-home care, where aged care and health services are provided to people in their family homes, is becoming an evolving trend that shows no signs of slowing. In Australia, demand by patients to be cared for in their home environment is growing at 13 per cent per annum. Consumers are taking advantage of the benefits of technological advances, which better enable health services to be delivered remotely and at a significantly lower cost than moving to a residential nursing home.
In-home care is really just the start of mobilising the ageing community, and there is still plenty to be learned from emerging trends overseas. These will become a key focus for many aged care players in the future. It is predicted that the percentage of ageing Australians living in residential aged care and retirement villages are set to drop as more Australians look for ways to access support to remain in their homes and communities for longer. To meet this need, it’s important that we take insights and inspiration from our global counterparts.
Belgium –dementia-friendly cities
In the Belgian city of Bruges, a number of measures have been put in place to make the city safe for people with dementia. One of the changes includes adding special signs in shop windows indicating that they are safe places for people with dementia who are lost or need assistance. The city also has a database of people at risk of wandering so they can be located should they become lost. The database includes the location of places the registered wanderers used to live and work, as these are often the locations they seek out when confused.
Finland – intergenerational living
A pilot program in Finland sees a small group of young people live together with seniors in a Helsinki home, in return for spending a number of hours a week with their elderly neighbours. A similar scheme was set up in Amsterdam, where a shortage of student accommodation combined with aged care funding cuts prompted an organisation to offer free accommodation to students in exchange for 30 hours of socialising each month. Mixing with people of all ages can help people feel connected and more integrated in society.
Japan –use of technology
In Japan, great importance is placed on the integration of technology in care provision to ensure safe, independent living for the elderly. While it can be challenging and expensive to retro-fit housing in this way, there are some exemplary regeneration projects where the local municipality, private providers and the government bodies have worked together to create gold standard examples of how tech is helping ageing citizens to stay at home for longer.
Korea –celebrating old age
Not only do Koreans respect their elders, they also celebrate them. In Korean culture, when a member of their society turn 60 or 70, these are seen as prominent life events and commemorated with large family parties and feasts. As in Chinese culture, the universal expectation in Korea is that roles reverse once parents age, and it is the child’s duty to care for his or her own parents. This is enshrined in current law, which states that all adult Koreans are legally obligated to financially support their spouses, parents and parents-in-laws.
Scotland –hearing older voices
The voices and opinions of the aged population in Scotland is one of importance. They are valued as an asset, and are supported to enjoy full and positive lives in family settings, according to their program Reshaping Care for Older People. Pledging to hear their elders’ voices, Scotland’s cultural thinking and money has shifted away from hospitals and moved towards preventative care. Scotland also offers grants to assist those who want to make adaptations to their homes so people can remain in them longer. Home adaptations include ramps or handrails for improved access, lights for visibility, stair lifts and accessible taps and door handles.
What programs from other countries would you like to see implemented in Australia’s aged care? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Related links:
What Japan teaches about embracing longevity
4 things Indians can teach us about ageing
7 cultures that celebrate the elderly