Jul 21, 2020

More than 100,000 older Australians still waiting for home care

New Government figures quietly released yesterday reveal more than 103,000 older Australians are still waiting for the home care package they have been approved for, says Shadow Minister for Ageing, Julie Collins MP.

These shocking figures follow the Aged Care Royal Commission’s interim report which called the long waiting times older Australians faced for home care ‘neglect’.

The Government’s announcement of just 6,000 more home care packages earlier this month will not put a dent in this lengthy waiting list.

While Australians are understandably concerned and focused on the risks of COVID-19 to older people, we must not forget the failings of our country’s broken aged care system.

The shocking figures that reveal the crisis in Australia’s aged care system just keep growing.

Almost 30,000 older Australians sadly passed away in just two years while waiting for home care.

Older Australians waiting for high level home care packages are waiting almost three years to get the care they have been approved for.

The Government must do better to ensure older Australians get the quality aged care services they deserve now.

Image: urbazon, iStock.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  1. We have record unemployment but the Liberal government cannot put a dent in the waiting lists for home care. What is going on ?

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Overuse of medications in aged care a “major concern”: study

Aged care facilities in Australia have “high rates and inappropriate use” of psychotropic medications, according to a new study by the University of Tasmania. The study ‘More Action Needed: Psychotropic prescribing in Australian residential aged care’, says its findings reveal “major concerns” and change is “urgently required”. The nation-wide study of 11,300 residents in 150 aged care... Read More

Caring for people living with dementia: How to overcome objections to showering

It is a common problem for carers that people living with dementia refuse to take a shower. What are some ways to help overcome the objections, and turn showering into a pleasant experience? Members of our Aged Care Workers Support Group shared their tips and advice. Read More

Coroner finds aged care staff grossly mismanaged fatal attack

  A 92-year-old South Australian woman who sustained a savage attack by another resident in the aged care home where she lived, was “unable to escape” and her carers exercised a “gross dereliction of proper management”, the Coroner has found. The South Australian Coroner Mark Johns handed down his findings into the 2012 death of... Read More
Advertisement