The aim of this report is to analyze the Australian healthcare system for aged population. In this concern, the report is describing different health models adopted by different healthcare organizations to be competitive in the associated industry. As well as, the report is describing industry trend, ethical issues and factors influencing to operating condition in healthcare system of Australia with example of Anglicare Australia, which is providing aged care services in the country.
In health care industry, the segment of aged care is defined as a special facility for the senior citizens, which provides accommodation and other supports with daily living, exhaustive forms of care and assistance towards independent living. These supports are recognized by the Accreditation Agency and Aged Care Standards to get financial support from the Australian government in the form of housing care subsidies for aged individuals. As per the Aged Care Act 1997, aged care is defined as residential aged care to provide personal caring services for the aged persons (Australian Government, 2018). In this concern, aged care can be defined as personal nursing services for the senior citizens to live their life healthy and happily.
The aged care industry covers a wide range of activities to provide support to the aged population in the country. Generally, the industry covers several supports that are required by the aging individuals to conquer the generating challenges in their routing activities. The major activities included in aged care are as below:
In Australian health care industry, NACA (National Aged Care Alliance) is considered as a representative stiff for the peak national organizations in aged care with including service providers, consumer group and future for aged care in the country. Anglicare Australia is well known organization for the aged care segment in healthcare industry of Australia. This organization is providing different care services such as retirement living, aged care services, residential aged care and different care services to support the living activities of the aged people in the country (Anglicare, 2018). Anglicare Australia is a non-profit organization of Australia which is responding to meet the changing needs in the community. In addition, the organization is overhauling employment services for the older people to provide them economic support. The aim of this organization is to motivate the aged people and use their knowledge and experience in startups (Azize, 2018). It is analyzed that there are different competitors of Anglicare within the aged care segment of healthcare industry on Australia. The major competitive organizations in this segment are Audiology Australia, Association of Independent Retirees Limited, Leading Age Services Australia, Australian Red Cross, Palliative Care Australia, Retirement Living Council and The Royal Society for the Blind, which are adopting different business models to be competitive in the industry (NACA, 2018). In this concern, it is analyzed that it is much competitive for Anglicare to sustain its aged care activities in the Australian healthcare industry.
The adopted business models by these healthcare organizations are Traditional model, Biomedical model of health, Social model of health, Blended model, Patient-centred model, Value based model and disruptive model. With the help of these models these organizations are providing their care services in different ways to be competitive in the associated industry. Under the traditional model, the organizations are providing care services to increase their revenue. The care providers treat the patients with different pharmaceuticals, psysio ot other care services, hospitalization and refer the patients to other health professionals for better treatment. The patients pay doctors for the care services. In this model, the care providers remain in control but they may face barrier in coordinating care services in effective manner. This model does not allow the needs of patients and avoids costly patients. As well as, the Biomedical model of health is considered as a technical measure regards the disease in human body due to biological causes (Halfon et al., 2014). In addition, the social model of health attempts to tackle the extensive influence on health from different factors such as cultural, social, economic and environmental factors rather than injury and diseases. The old aged people are influenced by these factors in big manner so that major organizations are considering these factors to provide the aged care services in better manner. This model is considered as a community method of preventing the diseases and injuries in aged people. But, the outcomes of this model are hard to measure and not capable to prevent entire diseases in from the aged population. Therefore, this model is ineffective in attaining the objectives of aged care in better manner.
The blended model leads to capitation model in which the family doctors are paid based on number of service provided. The goal of this model is to provide primary care for the individuals by supporting long lasting and strong association with the care providers. At present time the blended model is suitable for those individuals who have good financial position in the community as the paid amount is higher as compared to other treatment. In addition, the patient-centred model is much respective and responsive to the customer needs, preferences and values. Through this model the care organizations can improve patient care experience and create public value for the care services as well as can improve the business metrics (Rathert et al., 2015). At present time most of the care organizations are adopting this model to be competitive in the associated industry. Under the value based methods the care providers are paid on basis of patient health outcomes and amount of care services. As well as, the care organizations are adopting disruptive health model to implement innovation in care services through the implementation of technology to provide cost effective services. This model facilitates lower cost business model to the care organizations. In this concern, it is analyze that different organizations are adopting different health care models to be competitive in the health care industry of Australia.
The health industry in Australia is shaping into a dramatic change and it is a mixed system that includes the private and public care. The health care industry of Australia is one of the largest employers and it is also growing with remarkable transformation as it is accountable for 13.7% of entire workforce in Australia. In addition to this, it is also researched that aged care sector is contributing for sizable workforce in which it has employed 3,50,000 in this industry over the diverse range of job roles and responsibilities as nurse, care workers, management and administrative staff. On the other hand, aged care industry is also contributing towards the economic development of Australia as the economic value is measured around $13.5 billion in the year 2015 (Health, 2016). In Australia, the old age people are facing the challenges of managing the diseases such as Arthritis, Diabetes and Respiratory. With respect to this, the industry is adopting the change in relation to technological, social and behavioral perspectives towards these emerging challenges in aged care industry and major of them are as follow:
Demographic change: The demographic change will directly influence the aged care service of Australia as the aging population is increasing. In context to this, it is also researched that structure of Australia’s population is transforming and longevity of elder people in Australia is also increased.
(Source: Health, 2016)
In relation to the structure of Australian population is it changing as the proportion of population from the age group as 15 – 64 years is increasing but the growth of aged care people is also increasing around 3% per annum. On the other hand, due to the medicine capability and technology the people are living for long.
(Source: Japara, 2018)
Over the analysis, it is also researched that over the year 2055, it is expected that the people over the 60 -70 years will live 5 years more as compare to the present age of longevity.
Funding of aged care: The funding for the health care system is challenging for the aged care of Australia as the fund is attributed from private, public sources, residential care and home care service. At the same time, the funding system is changing towards the consumer and market driven as the consumer driven has appeared in significant aspect with recent reforms. The consumer driven care is also concerned towards the user pays as means –testing has also introduced the required level of income, if the consumer is meeting the criteria than it is needed to contribute more towards the development of funding for aged care (Ibisworld, 2018).
It is also expected that the aged care expenses will be just double in year 2055 so it is an issue for industry.
Changing consumer preferences: The customer preferences are also changing, first of all the most of consumers are interested in getting the care from home. Along with this, it is also changing that the people who are moving towards the age care service they are intended to have more personalized service (EY, 2017).
On the other hand, baby boomers are also changing as the age care is in highly demand and it is also needed complex care. Further, the diversity is also complex as the people come from different culture and they want. It is also challenging that the chronic disease among older age people.
Technological change and aged care workforce: The technological change and reform is also resulted into the issue for the health care industry of Australia a global as well because it has reduced the jobs for manually but it is also creating opportunities for the industry for non- manual caring for the aged people in the industry.
In Australia, the aged care practices are supported by the government through providing the practical guidance on financial support and boost the training education and professional development for the care givers (Ibisworld, 2018). In this concern, the operating condition for the aged care is growing in Australia. However, there are different factors such as political, economic, social, technological, environmental and legal factors that are influencing to these operating conditions in the healthcare organizations. It is observed that Australia has political stability and strong economic condition, which is supportive for the aged care in Australia. As well as, the environmental and technological factors are boosting the care services in better manner. The legal factors such as government policies regarding healthcare services are much strict for the care organizations to provide quality treatment for the individuals. In this concern, the operating condition for ages care in Australia is at growing level and the factors are supporting the care services in effective manner.
The aged care industry is facing several challenges as funding, preferences changes and increased demand and the ethical issues are also faced by the aged care industry. In context to the Australian perspective, the major ethical issue is as the confidentiality about the personal details about the aged people because all the information are declared to the care residency and people are insecure about this. Along with this, the people are also facing the problem of consent need about any changes in the care practices for aged people because aged people live the long life and they might not have proper control over their so overall information should be told to them (Australianageingagenda, 2014). In order to manage the ethical issue, the industry can bring the policy about the confidentiality maintaining for the aged people to not to share their personal information to their family as well. On the other hand, in order to maintain the consent aspect than the industry can establish a committee in order to manage the problems of aged people.
Conclusion:
From the above discussion, it can be concluded that there are different factors that may influence to the healthcare system in Australia. In this concern, the healthcare organizations must consider these factors and healthcare models to be competitive in the industry and provide better care services for aged person.
References:
Anglicare (2018) We are a Christian not-for-profit supporting people at all stages of life. [Online]. Available at: https://www.anglicare.org.au/ (Accessed: 5 December 2018).
Australian Government (2015) Ageing and Aged Care. [Online]. Available at: https://agedcare.health.gov.au/ensuring-quality/residential-aged-care-sanctions/definitions (Accessed: 5 December 2018).
Australian Government (2018) Residential aged care facility. [Online]. Available at: https://meteor.aihw.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/384424 (Accessed: 5 December 2018).
Australianageingagenda, (2014) Aged care research an ethical minefield: Bernoth. [Online]. Available at: https://www.australianageingagenda.com.au/2014/07/17/age-care-research-ethical-minefield-bernoth/ (Accessed: December 05, 2018).
Azize, M. (2018) Employment services are failing older Australians. [Online]. Available at: https://www.anglicare.asn.au/news-and-media/latest-news/2018/10/23/employment-services-are-failing-older-australians (Accessed: 8 December 2018).
EY, (2017) Will Australian aged care providers invest, acquire or consolidate for growth? [Online]. Available at: https://www.ey.com/au/en/industries/life-sciences/ey-aged-care-insights-february-2017 (Accessed: December 05, 2018).
Halfon, N., Larson, K., Lu, M., Tullis, E., and Russ, S. (2014) Lifecourse health development: past, present and future, Maternal and child health journal, 18(2), pp. 344-365.
Health, (2016) Australia’s aged care sector: economic contribution and future directions. [Online]. Available at: https://agedcare.health.gov.au/sites/g/files/net1426/f/documents/12_2016/aged_care_guild_-_enclosure_1_-_deloitte_access_economics_-_australia_s_.pdf (Accessed: December 05, 2018).
Ibisworld, (2018) Aged Care Residential Services – Australia Market Research Report. [Online]. Available at: https://www.ibisworld.com.au/industry-trends/market-research-reports/health-care-social-assistance/aged-care-residential-services.html (Accessed: December 05, 2018).
Japara, (2018) Future Trends in Australian Aged Care. [Online]. Available at: https://japara.com.au/news/future-trends-in-australian-aged-care/ (Accessed: December 05, 2018).
NACA (2018) ABOUT NACA. [Online]. Available at: https://www.naca.asn.au/about.html (Accessed: 5 December 2018).
Rathert, C., Williams, E. S., McCaughey, D., and Ishqaidef, G. (2015) Patient perceptions of patient?centred care: empirical test of a theoretical model, Health Expectations, 18(2), pp. 199-209.
Essay Writing Service Features
Our Experience
No matter how complex your assignment is, we can find the right professional for your specific task. Contact Essay is an essay writing company that hires only the smartest minds to help you with your projects. Our expertise allows us to provide students with high-quality academic writing, editing & proofreading services.
Free Features
Free revision policy
$10Free bibliography & reference
$8Free title page
$8Free formatting
$8How Our Essay Writing Service Works
First, you will need to complete an order form. It's not difficult but, in case there is anything you find not to be clear, you may always call us so that we can guide you through it. On the order form, you will need to include some basic information concerning your order: subject, topic, number of pages, etc. We also encourage our clients to upload any relevant information or sources that will help.
Complete the order form
Once we have all the information and instructions that we need, we select the most suitable writer for your assignment. While everything seems to be clear, the writer, who has complete knowledge of the subject, may need clarification from you. It is at that point that you would receive a call or email from us.
Writer’s assignment
As soon as the writer has finished, it will be delivered both to the website and to your email address so that you will not miss it. If your deadline is close at hand, we will place a call to you to make sure that you receive the paper on time.
Completing the order and download
