User Pays System in Aged Care: Resource Allocation, Benefits, UWS

This essay provides an in-depth analysis of the user pays system in aged care, examining how it affects service provision and resource allocation. It contrasts the user pays model with universal healthcare, highlighting the benefits of consumer-directed care and the ability to access preferred services. The essay discusses the positive aspects of the user pays system, such as improved care quality, reduced mortality rates, and enhanced preventative care. It also addresses potential drawbacks, including cost concerns, service delivery expectations, and the social implications of residential care. The analysis considers the importance of quality service provision, efficient resource allocation, and the unique healthcare needs of the elderly, concluding with a call for continued efforts to optimize the user pays model for the aged population. Desklib offers a wide array of resources for students, including similar essays and study tools.

Running head; User pays system in aged care 1
USER PAYS SYSTEM IN AGED CARE
Student’s name
Institutional affiliation

User pays system 2
The world is changing into a better place as time passes by due to the increasing levels
of technology and new inventions and innovation coming into place. Health systems are
improving as well as better health care systems are coming up. The user pays model is an
important aspect of health care systems in the world today. It operates by the fact that
someone gets to receive a service that they have fully paid for and deserves to get the best out
of the money paid to the service provider in terms of the service provided. This system has
several positive and negative aspects that revolve around it. The main focus of this discussion is
to explain the manner in which services are provided to the aged and how resources are
allocated to the same which is critical in user pays system
Aged care is one of the looked upon health care services in the world today since the
elderly form an essential part of the community and society at large (Gordeev, et al (2014)) .
Use of user pays system in aged care is coming into the lime light and is one of the most
effective health care service since one pays to receive a particular care service in accordance to
their preference. This is opposed to universal health care provision whereby the elderly mainly
depend on government subsidies to receive care which might at times be absent. In the user
pays model, the consumer pays for the services they require at a cost in which they can afford.
This is proving to be quite effective since someone does not have to pay indirectly for services
which they are not using as in the case of universal health care.
According to Sriram, et al (2015), resource allocation in this system is done based on the
most outstanding need and with reference to what the consumer desires since the service is
paid for. An old person for instance might prefer getting personal care in nursing homes and
therefore might afford paying for the service where they get taken care of by professional care

User pays system 3
givers. Since the elderly are part of the dependent population and may not be working, it is
understandable to have medical covers that had been paid for before retirement to take care of
them on retirement. They are therefore able to access to services of their preference since they
have paid for them as compared to government subsidies that are not normally comprehensive.
In cases where the financial resources may be limited, the health care giver might
consider looking at the most urgent requirement needed (Baker, et al (2016)). For example in a
medical case where the elderly has multiple diseases, the health care giver ought to use the
limited resources mainly financial to treat the most life threatening condition. There are many
positive aspects concerning the user pays system that have proved beneficial. Some of this
include the fact that you get to obtain services of your choice since you pay for them. According
to De San Miguel, et al (2015), care for the old has become easier with this system since a
relative can still go to work and be ascertained that their elderly is taken care of. These benefits
that come with this system include the introduction of nursing homes whereby the elderly are
taken care of by health care providers instituted in these homes. Medical services are catered
for in these homes and therefore the health of the elderly is guaranteed. Even though a fee has
to be paid for these services, the care for the aged is guaranteed since the health care provider
becomes closer to the elderly
In accordance to Tilse, et al (2015), this system has significantly helped minimize the
number of deaths for the old due to the effectiveness of the care provided in this model. For
instance care is delivered in a more exclusive package since the user pays for a certain care
service hence the elderly do not have to worry on where or how to seek a certain medical
attention. Some statistics conducted in the U.S in 2014 show that the number of deaths of

User pays system 4
persons aged 65 and above was about 1,922,271. This has significantly reduced over the years
as user pays system in taking shape in aged care. Since the elderly are also at risk of contracting
some of the old age chronic diseases such as hypertension and other cardiac related conditions,
the user pays system has significantly helped prevent such attacks since the service provider is
always within reach (Manikas, et al (2014, August)). This system has reduced delays
experienced in public hospitals as the elderly have access to immediate medical attention by
the relevant care providers.
This system has in a wide aspect helped improve the knowledge of old people on how to
take care of themselves and how to prevent contracting certain conditions since information is
made available to them by the service provider. (Bourgeois, et al (2014)). Their nutrition is as
well keenly observed therefore preventing wasting and diet linked conditions such as goiter and
renal failure.
The user pays system like any other systems is bound to have some disadvantages even
though they are minimal. It is considered by some commentators to be costly as the service
provider requests for payment for a delivered service. This is because the elderly are part of the
age dependent part of the population since they do not have jobs as most of them have retired.
However some of them might have earned a certain amount of money as part of their
retirement benefits and this can be used to pay for care services in this model (Ritchie, et al
(2014)). The service delivery might also not live up to expectations considering the fact that the
consumer pays for them. The healthcare provider might not provide services properly as
expected by the consumer hence the consumer might feel that the money he or she has paid to

User pays system 5
obtain a care service was not worth the amount. The service provided therefore can be below
the standards expected.
This system involves convalescent homes and retirement homes for the old people
where they are taken care of as a group. The elderly hence in these homes live away from their
families and might feel lonely since their family is not around. The care provider is not part of
their families and therefore he or she would not so much be concerned with the individual’s
intimate issues that a family member would be involved in. (Dafflon, (2015)). The care giving
environment might also have its deficiencies. The elderly tend to be vulnerable to accidents
since they are a bit fragile and the environment might not be well suited for them hence the
need for home modifications and structures that enhance their easy locomotion and well-being
without strain.
According to Mangone, et al (2016), when evaluating this system, a number of issues are
involved including the quality of services provided and how allocation of resources is done.
Considering the fact that aged people are inactive and that their health seeking behavior is
different from others, care is made available to them at homes depending on their preference
and capability. The quality of this service provision is therefore quite essential and mainly goes
hand in hand with the cost. The consumer pays for the provision of a certain care service and
this service on the other hand has to live up to the expectations of the consumer with regards
to the amount paid. It goes without say that the more expensive a service is, the higher the
expectations of delivery by the consumer in terms of quality delivered. Since the service
delivery to the elderly is personal, the consumer receives a wider range of services that they
require and the quality is at its best.

User pays system 6
With reference to Nakajima, (2016), health resources are allocated depending on
necessity. Since health care is an important aspect in our world today, we all ought to be careful
in allocating resources regarding the same since resources will always be limited. Just as in
business world, we have to consider the aspect of scarcity as well as opportunity cost in health
care. The elderly make an important part of any society and hence a good percentage of health
resources in this system target them though this might not always be the case in some
countries. This is because in the limited resources have to be directed carefully to bring about
returns and this might not be the case with aged people since they are dependent and mostly
retired hence cannot make a big difference in a country’s economic growth.(Dadashov, et al
(2014)).
In conclusion, organizations and health care sectors are working together to ensure
health care services are provided more efficiently for aged population. Both the negative and
positive aspects brought about by this model are being considered by the organizations in an
attempt to handle them better. The user pays model for the aged has proven to be very useful
and the goal being focused and implemented is improving on the resource allocation and better
provision of services. The elderly form an important part of the society and therefore their care
is a great responsibility for everyone. Hence the user pays model needs close attention to
maximize on the positive aspects.

User pays system 7
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