The Impact Of The Aging Population On The Health Workforce In Australia

With an aging population that keeps on developing, our health care system will be changed forever. It is safe to say that we are we prepared for it?

According to the Global Health and Aging report exhibited by the World Health Organization (WHO), “The number of people aged 65 or older is projected to grow from an estimated 524 million in 2010 to nearly 1.5 billion.

In 2050, the situation will be in developing countries. “Furthermore, by 2050, the number of people 65 years or older is expected to significantly outnumber children younger than 5 years of age.

Overview of Aged Care Support and Services in Australia

Introduction

• Services and support for the aged in Australia are given by countless projects (Commonwealth, State/Territory and local) and additionally programs/support from the community and voluntary sectors (particularly families and careers), the private revenue driven part and the private not-for-profit sector. Because the aged are able to access 'mainstream' support and services (for example, health care, housing support and income support) that are available to the whole population, it is not conceivable isolate precisely what is given to the aged and what it costs.
• Most assistance and support is given to the segment of the aged population in most need the frail and the disabled. For many aged over 65 years old there is no need for specific assistance. With the general trend towards individuals living longer and being healthier for longer, the main accentuation in terms of assistance and support is towards the 'older' aged that is those aged over 75 80 years old. It is generally understood that the greatest need for support is over the most recent two years of a person's life.
• In recent years the tendency in policy terms is for an expanded accentuation on early intervention and 'healthy' ageing combined with 'ageing in place', that is, keeping older people out of health and residential facilities for as long as conceivable. This is not just more practical from an administration perspective, (for example, it costs the Commonwealth, on average, approximately $30 000 per annum to fund an average residential aged care bed compared to the Package of approximately $10 000 per annum), it also conforms to the wishes of the vast majority of aged people themselves.

How do we define ‘old’?

• For population measurement purposes, ‘old’ is conventionally defined as people aged 65 and over, based on the original qualifying age for the Age Pension. While this article is going to describe you, it is important to stress that at the individual level, a person does not necessarily become frail or ‘dependent’ at age 65 (or at any other particular age).
• Like the broader Australian population, the group of ‘older people’ is far from uniform. The diversity of the older Australian population, combined with ongoing changes in the health, economic and social circumstances faced by all Australians, results in a very complex range of differing circumstances and needs as we grow older. Where possible in this article, data referring to the 65-and-over age group are split into subcategories (for example, 65–74, 75–84 and 85+)

Since health, and the need for health services, often varies with age.

Increasing demand for health services

• Demand for health services is affected by many factors, but older people are generally higher users of health services than younger people, and so demand is expected to increase with the ageing population.
• Older people are more likely to visit health professionals than younger people. According to the 2011–12 AHS, 98% of people aged 65 and over had consulted at least 1 health professional in the previous 12 months, compared with 90% of those aged under 65 (ABS 2013b). Among people aged 65 and over, 96% had consulted a GP in the previous 12 months, including 38% who had done so in the previous 2 weeks compared with 82% and 18% of those aged fewer than 65, respectively.
• In terms of other health services, 57% of older people had consulted a specialist within the last 12 months (compared with 28% of people aged under 65), and around 20% had been admitted to hospital as an inpatient (compared with 11% of younger people) (AIHW analysis of ABS 2013b).
• Within this total increase, the number of residents aged 85 and over rose by 37%, with this group accounting for just over 58% of the total population of permanent aged care residents (up from around 51% in 2003).
• These rises reflect growth in the older population, as well as associated increases in government-subsidized residential places (which are set to increase further following recent aged care reforms).

Various Opportunities:

There is a high shortage of professional healthcare who work in aged care

When compared to other specialty areas in health care, there’s a considerable lack of individuals who focus on the elderly. You will be amazed to know that it ‘s quite rare that you see a student without job even job seeking graduate pursuing a career in aged care, despite the fact that there are many opportunities out there for those with the right qualifications. Many institutions of higher learning have changed their course offerings accordingly.

The demand for aged care workers continues to increase as the population ages

Without any doubt, that people are living longer, especially as general health care and technology continue to go through huge advancements. Even as other market segments are affected by the ups and downs of the global economy, work in aged care receives a boost in demand because the elderly population is increasing. Employment in the field of aged care is quite growing and secure.

Work in aged care offers fascinating variety

Obviously, the primary focus of elder care is treating and maintaining proper health, but there’s so much practice required than the medical side. You would be able to interact with patients throughout the day, developing relationships and providing emotional support. These people often need someone to confide in, help with an easy task or simply provide a friendly smile. Sharing a cup of tea and conversation goes a long way to making a patient’s day more enjoyable, as each moment in their life counts. You’ll never be bored with the wide range of daily encounters.

Challenges

• Meeting the need for increased skills in consumer service and complex care needs – matching training modes to future demand.
• Ensuring aged care is an attractive industry for workers noting. The pay differential between aged care and competing industries (especially health) reduces the willingness of workers, especially nurses, to join the industry
• Aged care has a very high proportion of part-time workers; maintaining the ability of aged care to offer flexible work options, including increased hours, will increase the attractiveness of the sector.
• Future consumers’ expectations of more personalized and responsive service will impact work
• Arrangements and staff cultures; and the consumer-driven market may drive less predictable patterns of demand by consumers.
• Modern Award structures may not be sufficiently flexible to keep pace with shifts in work practices or modes, and the transition to a services industry (rather than consumers being passive recipients of services).

Enrolling in Certificate Courses for Aged Care:

Who can and How People have a wide range of profession choices. They wish to take after their dreams and purse success. Be that as it may, for a few people acquiring bounty doesn't make a difference a great deal of. They want to assist and serve society. Several of such individuals try to be a part of an NGO or support group. But there are some people wish to serve people yet in the meantime acquire something. For the people of the second classification, the Australian Education consolidates two temporary declaration courses for supporting the senior individuals. In Adelaide, You would be able to take Aged Care Courses which is offered by some universities establishments over the city.

About Aged Care Course:

• The main objective of the course is to prepare young individuals as caring persons to help and assist the elderly. While the students learn to become caring and fine citizens and earn also, the elderly get the required care and companionship much needed by them. In this way, it becomes a situation beneficial for all.
• Students in this course will learn to interact effectively with aged people, family members and a range of stakeholders involved in an aged, home and community care service.
• Students will develop skills in caring for, nurturing and planning for the care, support and wellbeing of aged people in a regulated facility, home and community care settings. They will learn a variety of communication and other employability skills, along with knowledge of dementia, palliative approach, personal, home and community support services.
• With this approach, it becomes a situation helpful for all. These courses are beneficial for all the people who are interested in a career in the field of healthcare and community service, who want to do a Diploma of Nursing, who passionately want to serve the society with their efforts.
• If you are considering in this group then you would be able to choose from the two available courses.
• Certificate III in Individual Care
• Certificate IV in Aged Care.
• If you've got compassion for the elders and are considering taking this course, then you need to seek for sensible institutions that offer the most effective education for this course.
• Aged Care Course Adelaide is one such choice for you. They can connect you with one of the most effective instructors in the field who have past expertise in handling aged people.

Conclusion

In conclusion it can be said that experienced Aged Care workers must pay attention on interpersonal relationships with their patient. Aged care nurses should maintained good relationship and coordination with the physicians, therapists, patients and their families and also develop health care system. The educational background is varies widely for aged care workers in various part of the world.