June Newsletter

CEO Message

Hello Good People,

Welcome to another Newsletter.

Last month, the aged care sector welcomed the Australian Government’s formal response to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, which includes a record funding increase of $17.7 billion over the next four years.

Australia now spends half of what comparable countries do on aged care, and while this investment won’t close that funding gap entirely, it will provide structural relief in many critical areas.

Eighty thousand new home care packages and workforce support including greater training and career development are significant steps forward.

What this means is we are on the pathway to realising a transformed aged care system, that is resourced and enabled to meet the needs of a growing number of older Australians.

Everglow is part of the Australian Aged Care Collaboration that last month put forward a 15-point plan to ensure older Australians received the most benefit in the quickest time from an improved aged care system.

Called “Aged care – the way forward”, the plan recommended the Australian Government immediately focus on priority areas in four broad groupings including Human rights, access and choice, Workforce, Transparency and Sustainability.

The need for reform

• Genuine reform must start now because Australia’s population is ageing.
• More than 4.1 million Australians, or almost 16% of the population, are currently aged over 65. By 2057, that will rise to 8.8 million, or 22% of the population, and by 2097 it will reach 12.8 million people or one in four Australians.
• Close to 100,000 people are waiting for home support at their approved level – with those in need of the highest-level packages typically waiting at least 12 months.

Types of government-subsidised aged care

• Broadly speaking, Australians access government-subsidised aged care services in three different settings:

1. Own home – for people with low care needs (Commonwealth Home Support Program CHSP) – 840,000 people.
2. Own home – for people with greater care needs (Home Care Package Program) – 174,000 people.
3. Communal care homes – where residents generally receive nursing and personal care 24 hours per day, either on a permanent basis or as short-term respite stays (Residential Aged Care Homes) – 244,000 people.

Spending on aged care

• Total expenditure on aged care in Australia in 2019-20 reached about $26 billion.
• The Australian Government spent $21 billion, with most of the remainder paid directly by consumers.
• Australia’s financing of aged care is highly skewed towards residential aged care, with 6.4% of over 65s in Australia living in these communal homes, compared with an OECD average of 3.6%.
• Approximately 63% of all government aged care funding, or $13.5 billion, is spent on communal residential aged care.
• A further 88,000 places will be required in communal Residential Aged Care over the next 10 years, at a cost of $55 billion.

Workforce

• 78,000 extra workers are needed in the next 10 years to deal with the country’s ageing population.
• These figures may explain why the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety found that Australians strongly support increased funding to ensure access to high-quality care in the future.

I hope this information assists you in understanding the complex nature of the Aged Care system in Australia and what we in the industry are doing to ensure the Government follows through on the recommendations of the Royal Commission.

As always, I welcome any feedback from you in relation to your services or any opportunities for improvement.

Until next month, stay safe.

Wayne

DID YOU KNOW?

Gentle Exercise improved muscle strength and bone density reducing the risk factors of falls through improved balance. Activities that raise the heart rate increase blood flow to the heart and boost your overall health which can be beneficial for many chronic conditions. Maintaining a healthy weight and moving your body guided by qualified instructors promotes and improves one's confidence, socialization, and overall well-being.  

Colouring and craft activities relax the brain and can reduce anxiety and stress. Focus and direct attention increase creativity and enhance motor skills. Relax in a peaceful environment offering interaction, socialization, and inclusion. Come along and learn a new craft, create memories for yourself, and keepsakes for family and friends.

Dementia Advisory and Support Activities Eileen Parisi is a dementia advisor assisting with activities and support for clients and loves ones to develop strategies and skills to manage the daily challenges that living with dementia can present. Activities for clients stimulate the brain and memory but reduces anxiety and stress for enjoyment and achievement of goals. Eileen also offers home visits which are fully funded through your Home Care Package. This service is available to Everglow clients in Townsville, Ingham, and Ayr.

Music and song lift your spirits and releases happy emotion while improving speech and cognitive skills. As well as improving memory, music allows us to remember wonderful times of the past. Music and song improve respiration, lowers blood pressure, improves cardiac output, and relax muscle tension. Improve your immunity and give your brain and lungs a fun fulfilling workout. Our music classes offer clients the choice to play musical instruments, sing or just relax and enjoy the environment. 

See Below for the Time and Date of our activities

Monthly Functions And Weekly Activities.

Ayr

Friendship Craft Group - Friday 25th June at 9:00 am - 11:00 am (Cost: $5.00)

Morning Tea is provided following all classes. Please call our friendly team  on 4728 2540 for more information on the venues of the above activities      

Group Lunch 

Date: Thursday 17th June 2021 

Venue: Coutts Commercial Hotel 88-90 Queens  Street, Ayr

Time: 11:30 am - 01:30pm

Cost $14.00

Please call the office on 4728 2540 to RSVP by 15th June 2021 

Pizza in the Park

Date: Tuesday 29th June 2021 

Venue: Plantation Park, Ayr

Time: 11:30 am - 01:30 pm

Cost: $12.00

Please call the office on 4728 2540 to RSVP by 24th June 2021

Townsville                                              

Gentle Exercise - Every Monday (First Session) 9:30 am - 11:00 am  (Second Session) 11:00 am - 12:30 pm and Every Friday (First Session) 9:30 am -11:00 am (Second Session) 11:00 am -12:30 pm

Crafty Crafts - Every Tuesday 10:00 am - 11:30 am

Music Memories - Every Thursday 11:30 am - 1:30 pm 

Mind Matters (Dementia Support Activities)- Every Wednesday 09:30 am - 12:00 pm 

Music Memories - Every Thursday 11:30 am - 01:30 pm 

First Session is Free 

Morning Tea is provided following all classes. Please call our friendly team on 4725 1822 for more information on the venues of the above activities.  

World Yoga Day Client and Staff Lunch 

Date: Friday 18th June 2021     

Time: 12:00 pm - 02:00 pm 

Venue: Everglow Office  2/155 Hugh Street Currajong QLD 4812

Cost: 15.00  

Please call the office on 4725 1822 to RSVP by Friday 11th June 2021   

Client Lunch along with Emergency Services Visit

Date: Tuesday 29th June 2021

Time: 10:00 am - 11:30 am

Venue: Everglow Office 2/155 Hugh Street Currajong 

Cost: 15.00

Please call the office on 4725 1822 to RSVP by Tuesday 22nd June 2021                                                                    

Ingham

Gentle Exercise - Every Tuesday 10:00 am - 11:30 am 

Craft - 2nd June, 16th June, and 30th June 9:00 am - 11:30 am 

Bingo - 4th June 09:30 am - 11:30 am 

Hoy /Cent Sale - 18th June 09:30 am - 11:30 am 

Dance Well -  Every Thursday 10:00 am - 11:15 am

First Session is Free 

Morning Tea is provided following all classes. Please call our friendly team  on 4776 2296 for more information on the venues of the above activities   

Sweet Tasting Morning Tea

Date: Wednesday 9th June 2021

Time: 10:30 am - 12:00 pm 

Venue: Everglow Ingham (Social Area)

Please call the office on 4776 2296 to RSVP by Monday 7th June 2021

Client Lunch and Emergency Services Talk

Date: Wednesday 23rd June 2021 

Time: 12:00 pm - 02:00 pm 

Venue: Everglow Ingham (Social Area)

Cost: $15.00 

Please call the office on 4776 2296 to RSVP by Monday 21st June 2021                                                                                              

Give us a call for more information about our services and products.