The first batch of data from this year’s National Seniors Social Survey (NSSS) has revealed half of those surveyed have changed their plans for aged care, because of negative stories they have seen in the media from the Royal Commission.
The NSSS asked survey participants about planning for aged care and received more than 5,500 responses from those aged 50 and over.
National Seniors CEO, Professor John McCallum says the results so far showed a high degree of concern and scepticism from consumers about the current and future desirability of aged care.
“We have an ageing population who have become wary and weary when it comes to aged care because of what they have read and heard through the media,” Professor McCallum said.
“They are not sure what to do next because of seeing the horror stories, and they don’t know what reform will look like and when it will be delivered.”
Professor McCallum says the next 12 months were critical for the Federal Government to show it was making a meaningful start on fixing aged care if it wanted older people to engage with the reforms.
“What we need is momentum and if that is not demonstrated in the next 12 months, then we run the risk that older Australians will switch off and not plan for their futures,” he said.
“It is just as important to have older people engaged and contributing to the reform discussions so we can design services that meet their future needs.”
