WAITING TIME FOR CARE AT HOME BLOWS OUT FOR OLDER AUSTRALIANS

Senate Estimates has revealed older Australians waiting for aged care services at home are being left in limbo for over a year without care.

 

Estimates confirmed the average wait time for level three and four home care packages, the highest levels of care, is over ‘12 months’.

 

SENATOR KRISTINA KENEALLY: “What is the average wait time for a level 1, 2, 3 or 4 home care package?”

 

DEPARTMENTAL OFFICIAL: “Level 1 and 2 is 6 to 9 months, and for level 3 and 4 over 12 months.”

 

 

There are close to 79,000 older Australians waiting for these packages who have high care needs, many with dementia.

 

The Government’s home care package changes, as part of the Living Longer Living Better reforms, were meant to put older Australians at the centre of their care, meaning they could make decisions based on their needs rather than being told what they need.

 

With wait times blowing out and more and more older Australians joining the queue for care it is clear the Government needs to act.

 

Estimates also revealed the Turnbull Government’s only advice to vulnerable older Australians waiting for level three and four packages is to accept a lower level interim package.

 

These older Australians are not getting the care they need. This is an unacceptable situation.

 

The Turnbull Government is failing the task of caring for older Australians with no solutions to deal with this growing crisis.

 

Labor has repeatedly called on the Turnbull Government to fix this crisis as the waiting list and waiting times continue to grow.

 

Older Australians waiting for a home care package deserve better.