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.

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

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