Debate on Greater Regulatory Oversight of the Aged Care Services

Question: Debate on Greater Regulatory Oversight of the Aged Care Services is Crucial for Improving Standards of Care. Answer: I would like to begin by concurring with the assertion that the provision of aged-care services is a very challenging task. It can create lots of complexities as far as the ethical and legal requirements are concerned. However, I would like to oppose this debate by saying that the improvement of standards of care for the elderly persons can only be guaranteed by the enforcement of greater regulatory oversight. I argue against greater regulations of the aged-care because it is an unnecessary thing to do because it can put the healthcare providers in an ethical dilemma. It cannot guarantee high quality services to the elderly patients because no regulations can assure a fair distribution of healthcare services to the elderly. I prefer the application of liberalism and Quality?Adjusted Life Year (QALY) strategy in the allocation of healthcare resources. It is the most appropriate ethical approach to adopt because it will enhance a proper distribution of healthcare personnel, equipments, training opportunities, supplies, and machines to the aging (Lamb, 2015). The elderly patients are so sensitive because have complex conditions that require an uncompromised quality of health care (Donato Segal, 2013). Whereas regulation sets out terms and requirement to care for the aged, it does not adequately address how resource acquisition and allocation is done. Therefore, healthcare providers are likely to face enormous task to mobilize resources (WHO, 2016). And even if resources are available, the greater challenge would be on how to account for all the materials allocated to cater for the healthcare of the aged. Likewise, the elderly have constitutional rights which enable them to access and benefit from healthcare services. Imposing regulatory policy is like reaffirming the constitution. In whatever condition, the constitution is supposed to be supreme law which protects the aged with respect to healthcare needs which they might require. Again, despite the existence of various regulations which not only protect the aged but also other populations, there is lack of strong evidence which to support improved healthcare services. Moreover, regulations alone without enough civic education are unlikely to create positive impacts concerning quality of healthcare the aged received (Lamb, 2015).What is most important is a society with strong value towards the aged. When people inculcate appropriate values which ensure that healthcare needs for the elderly are highly prioritized, regulations might not be necessary. All people including the aged need a dignified life (Hope, Dickfos King, 2016).The international charter on the rights of the human being recognizes that healthcare is a fundamental claim which people must enjoy. Therefore, regulatory policies are not significant. In conclusion, I stand my ground that greater regulation of the aged-care is inappropriate. Although the regulations play a significant role of setting universal standards and improving the efficiency, quality, and safety of the patients, greater regulation of the aged-care cannot achieve such thing. Instead, it can only cause unnecessary barriers and confusions that only derail the efficiency of healthcare services to the aged. It cannot guarantee high quality services and even distribution of healthcare resources to the aging persons. Lack of strict regulations should therefore not be a more serious problem than resource allocation. References DiCenso, A.; Cullum, N. Ciliska, D. (2011). Implementing evidence-based nursing: some misconceptions. Evidence Based Nursing 1 (2): 3840. doi:10.1136/ebn.1.2.38. Donato, R. Segal, L. (2013). Does Australia have the appropriate health reform agenda to close the gap in Indigenous health?. Australian Health Review, 37(2), pp.232-238. Fairman, J. A., Rowe, J. W., Hassmiller, S., Shalala, D. E. (2011). Broadening the scope of nursing practice. New England Journal of Medicine, 364(3), 193-196. DOI: 10.3912/OJIN.Vol19No02Man02. Hope, D. L., Dickfos, S., King, M. (2016). Legal gems: Provision of Schedule 3 medicines. Australian Pharmacist, 35(4), 71. Lamb, G., (2015.) Overview and Summary: Care Coordination: Benefits of Interprofessional Collaboration. OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing Vol. 20, No. 3, Overview and Summary. DOI: 10.3912/OJIN.Vol20No03ManOS World Health Organization. (2016). Policy Roundtable on Strengthening Health Workforce Regulation, Melbourne, Australia, 19-20 September 2016: meeting report. Manila: WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific.