Many senior Australians and their caregivers often find themselves in a complex maze when navigating the aged care system. Uncertainty about their entitlements and the duties of their aged care providers further complicates this journey.
The National Aged Care Advocacy Program (NACAP) is designed to address these challenges by offering free, independent, and confidential advocacy support. NACAP provides crucial education and information to older individuals and their carers, empowering them to understand their rights and navigate the system more effectively. Furthermore, NACAP extends its reach to aged care providers through educational sessions aimed at fostering a deeper understanding of elder rights and their responsibilities as service providers. The program pays particular attention to vulnerable populations, including those living with dementia, mental health conditions, disabilities, or cognitive decline, as well as individuals from special needs groups as defined in the Aged Care Act 1997.
The significance of NACAP’s role is underscored by the findings of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. The Commission’s report highlighted the critical importance of advocacy in protecting the rights and best interests of older people within the aged care system.
To ensure NACAP effectively meets its objectives and delivers optimal support, an independent evaluation was commissioned. This evaluation, undertaken by AHA, aimed to assess the program’s achievements and identify potential improvements for advocacy services and policy development in the future. The core focus of the evaluation was to determine NACAP’s effectiveness in:
- Ensuring older people are aware of, understand, and can exercise their aged care rights.
- Providing effective support to older people from diverse cultural backgrounds and those facing complex vulnerabilities.
The evaluation adopted a comprehensive approach, incorporating three parallel streams of investigation:
- Implementation Analysis: This stream involved interviews with individuals responsible for NACAP’s implementation. The focus was on understanding the program’s delivery mechanisms and assessing the appropriateness of its governance model, funding structure, and connections with relevant stakeholders.
- Effectiveness Assessment: This stream employed a combination of quantitative and qualitative data to evaluate NACAP’s success in meeting the demand for timely advocacy services and achieving its intended goals. A key component was gathering feedback directly from NACAP recipients and aged care providers regarding how well the program addressed their needs.
- Efficiency Review: This stream utilized qualitative and quantitative data to identify any potential overlaps in service provision and to determine whether NACAP offers value for money in its operations.
The comprehensive final report, containing findings and recommendations for program enhancement, is publicly accessible on the department’s website. This report offers valuable insights into the program’s impact and pathways for future improvement.
