Robo Aged Care: Algorithm Slashing Home Support

0:00A new algorithm called the Integrated Assessment Tool is shaking up aged care in Australia by deciding how much home support older people get. Introduced on November 1st last year, as part of major reforms, it uses data from assessors to set funding levels automatically. Critics say it's slashing care packages, leaving many without enough help to stay at home. Early on, the Department of Health promised assessors could override the algorithm's decisions, but that option got pulled right before launch. Now, new figures show review requests have skyrocketed to 800 since the change, compared to just 178 in the whole. Previous financial year, some call it Roboaged Care, fearing it's rigged to cut government spending. Frontmine assessors and families are furious, describing assessments as impersonal tick box exercises on laptops. One expert from an advisory panel warns and misses real needs, pushing people toward hospitals instead of home care. Providers report over a third of upgrade requests rejected, even for clear cases like dementia patients needing daily help.

1:06The government insists the system is fair and faster, built on 20,000 prior assessments with humans involved at every step. Minister for aged care, Anika Wells says it fixes past over allocation of $4 billion in unspent funds, and people can still request reviews. Officials note the tool was clinically verified after years of trials. As more than 100,000 wait for assessments amid privatized services, the Department promises ongoing tweaks to the algorithm based on monitoring. This could mean better balance ahead, but for now, it's sparking real worries about care gaps for those who need it most. This has been Adelaide News Today, powered by AI.