As we age, the comfort of our home becomes more than just a living space—it's a treasure trove of memories, a symbol of independence, and a sanctuary where we feel most at ease.

It's no wonder that most older Australians strongly desire to remain in their own homes for as long as possible.

However, achieving this is becoming increasingly challenging due to the severe lag in-home aged care services meeting the high demand.

The plight of Barbara, an inner-West Sydney resident, is a stark example of the struggles many Australians face when seeking home care for their elderly loved ones.

After applying for financial aid in the form of a Home Care Package (HCP) for her 91-year-old mother, Barbara was initially told the wait would be three to six months.

High demand for Home Care Packages in Australia led to long wait times and staff shortages. Credit: Shutterstock

‘They said, “Ok, it's ready, but we can't give it to you”,’ said the inner-West Sydney resident.’ she said.

‘The only thing I can do is look for another provider. But then again, as I said, what's the point? They will probably be the same.’

Nearly a year later, she finally received approval for a Level 3 package designed to provide essential advanced care such as cleaning, bathing, and other household services.

Yet, the care promised still needs to be delivered due to chronic understaffing in the sector.

According to Senate estimates from June, wait times for HCPs have soared over the past year, with the number of recipients waiting to receive a package almost doubling from 28,665 to 68,109.

The government's website now lists Level 3 and Level 4 package wait times as 9-12 months, a significant increase from the previous 6-9 months and 1-3 months, respectively.

However, these figures need to account for the 'hidden' delays before approval, such as the time taken for eligibility assessments, which can add months to the already lengthy process.

While waiting for her package, Barbara had no choice but to pay out-of-pocket for care, juggling work commitments and assisting her mother where possible.

The quality of care received during this period was concerning, with some providers needing to meet the standards expected of government-subsidised services.

Rose, a 78-year-old Sydney dialysis recipient, shared a similar tale of frustration and isolation.

‘Monthly, it's going to cost me $106,’ Rose said.

‘That's a lot of money thinking about it.’

After breaking her hip and being approved for a Level 3 HCP, she finds herself alone and struggling to afford the care she needs.

‘I want to try and shower myself,’ Rose added.

‘But if anything should happen, there's no one here…I've mentioned that to [social workers], but they just shrug their shoulders, and that's that.’

With her husband admitted to the hospital long-term, Rose is left to manage domestic tasks with limited mobility and no support.

In the 2020-21 period, over 8,000 people died while waiting for HCPs, and more than 11,000 moved into residential care, often against their wishes.

Despite the 2020 Royal Commission into Aged Care's recommendations for a new, streamlined aged care program, the HCP has remained unchanged.

The Federal Government's allocation of $531.4 million for 24,100 additional Home Care Packages in the 2024-25 Budget is a step in the right direction.

Still, experts warned that the crisis will only persist with a corresponding expansion of the aged care workforce.

The Department of Health and Aged Care has announced the 'Support at Home' program to replace the HCP and transition to the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) by 2027.

A spokesperson from the Department of Health and Aged Care informed that wait times for Home Care Packages (HCPs) have risen due to an unexpectedly high number of approvals.

‘While waiting for their HCP assignment, older Australians have alternative options,’ the spokesperson noted.

‘They can access aged care services through the Commonwealth Home Support Program or through state and privately funded services.’

However, until these changes take effect, the immediate need for fast-tracking home care package delays and ensuring access to appropriate care without out-of-pocket expenses remains critical.

In similar news, Australia's waitlist for home care packages has surged to over 68,000 people.

Department officials have noted that accessing the scheme has become more challenging, attributing the rise in demand partly to cost of living pressures. You can read more about it here.

Key Takeaways

• The current supply of Home Care Packages (HCPs) in Australia is not meeting the high demand, resulting in long wait times and understaffing issues.
• Sydney resident Barbara waited nearly a year to receive her mother's Level 3 package, but she still has not received the services due to understaffing.
• The Department of Health and Aged Care acknowledged increased wait times due to more people being approved for HCPs than expected and suggested alternatives like the Commonwealth Home Support Program and private services.
• Despite the 2020 Royal Commission into Aged Care, the system has seen no significant changes, but a new 'Support at Home' program will replace current HCPs starting from 1 July 2025.

How has the home-aged care system impacted you and your family? What changes would you like to see to ensure our seniors receive the care they deserve? Feel free to share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below.

 

[mylittletibbies]

The trouble is the amount you earn has to be under a certain level or the tax office takes some of it.

Still better than nothing and I don't see why people who rely on taxpayers to receive their pension payment should object to contributing something towards the taxation system
that provides that pension.

 

[mylittletibbies]

I get a gardener once every 3wks . Cleaner once every 2wks,took 8wks to get results for a visit from occupational Therapy for 2nd Oct. The cost for the 2 services I get are reasonable will probably need more help in the future to remain in my own home

Here, in WA, I was told they no longer provide gardening services
Something to do with insurance they said?

 

[starrysnan]

My husband has a Level 3 Home Care package which he received 2 years ago after waiting 12 months at that stage. He is wheelchair dependent and I am the 24 hour carer. We receive help with lawn mowing, cleaning and currently physio as well as equipment costs such as power chair, shower commode, seating and back support etc. Recently the government has changed the goal posts and some things are now no longer approved under the funding. This is the first assistance he has ever received in 40 years - we always bought the equipment and did everything ourselves. The government needs to look into the cost of services and equipment as frankly some of these are quite exorbitant. They also need to realise that people do need help but have individual needs that need to be adequately assessed.

 

[mOiOz]

The trouble is the amount you earn has to be under a certain level or the tax office takes some of it.

AND... the maximum earnings permitted on a pension is $180 a fortnight, that's $90 a WEEK - less than 5% of a basic pension.

 

[mOiOz]

Here, in WA, I was told they no longer provide gardening services
Something to do with insurance they said?

In QLD I was promised coupons towards gardening costs, after almost 3 months, when I phoned and asked why I hadn't received any yet, I was informed there were no more left and they were not getting more! (Whatever that means?)!

 

[Emwick]

I have been reading all the feedback on accessing the Federal Government's aged care initiatives - the Home Care Packages and the Home Assistant program for services like house-cleaning, gutter-cleaning and gardening (really just lawn-mowing). Only last night with the TV news and in today's newspapers, Canberra announced " the greatest improvement in aged care in 30 years" with the allocation of a $5.6 billion reform package. In light of the hundreds of Seniors who applied and are still waiting for these packages, I would describe this grant as "a catch up" measure on the part of our politicians and lawyers.

I definitely hope it will be a great "improvement " and a much-needed "reform". The biggest obstacles to its accessibility and efficacy are (1) the sheer number of aged people who need assistance (2)) the scarcity of well trained care workers who have the right attitude towards their role and their duties and (c) Government's careful monitoring of the use of monies by approved service providers.

I write as one who worked at my local shire council when these care packages were first made available, initially monies and responsibility for them were granted by the Commonwealth to shire councils. I was recruited by my local council specifically to liaise with Seniors who needed personal care or help around the home, or both. (Prior to this, I was working at the Council of the Ageing, WA Branch). I was also tasked by the council to recruit Carers for the home packages, to be trained and supervised by the council. Then, a special unit was formed to cater to multicultural Seniors - to explain and advise on the help they could access and assign appropriate personnel to them. This meant that if we recruited Carers for an ethnic client, the applicant Carer had to speak in that particular client'language and be able to cook t
dishes in thehe client's native cuisine.

At the time, we catered mostly to western-oriented Seniors, as there were few Asian groups to cater to - except the Chinese. For the latter, we closely liaised with the Chung Wa Association. But, on the whole we tried to recruit and train Carers to help Aussie,Seniors and those from an Italian, Croatian, Polish, Greek, German and Hungarian backgrounds. Knowledge of their home language and cuisine truly contributed to their health and well-being.

When the plight of disadvantaged Seniors were brought to our attention ,
we would liaise with the Aged Care Assessment Team of either Royal Perth Hospital or Bentley Hospital. I attended these assessments and continued to liaise with them until the Care Packages were put in place. More often than not, referrals t us would come from clients' GPs.

Unfortunately, the service changed when the Commonwealth transferred the funding from local councils to "privatised" entities. While I emphasise that this does NOT apply to a number of private agencies, the "pursuit of the dollar" and not primarily the Seniors' welfare and comfort has guided service providers.

About two years ago, I helped a friend to apply for a Home Care Package as she had a stroke and had been in a coma for 6 days. Royal Perth Hospital's ACAT Team facilitated receipt of a Level Four Home Care Package. As it is unethical to name the package provider here, you have to trust me on this.
At first, everything went smoothly. After six months, the recipient rang management at her provider and said that, perhaps, they should lower her
needs to either Levels 1 or 2, as she could already do a lot of things herself. She also felt it was unfair to continue with Level Four with so many on the waiting list and even more unable to access it. The Provider's response? She was told not to upset the apple cart that would, in turn, upset their liaison and paperwork with the Aged Care Department.

So my friend has continued with the Level Four package that continue provide
her with Carers who don't clean properly, lazy gardeners and "companions"
who go on unnecessary shopping trips with her, spend their time just conversing with her and even accompany her daughter on a fishing trip!
Towards June and tax time, in order to continue justifying the monies they get, they buy her a new fridge, a microwave and a washing machine - which she does not need because her own appliances are still in good nick.

Also two years ago, my husband had a heart attack. He suffers from a number of age-related problems at age 80. I have fibromyalgia, diabetes, fibromyalgia and high blood pressure problems. Do you think I could get a Home Care Package? No...an irony for one who once worked to help people access them!

My husband and I were given services on their Community Help program but ended up having to dismiss the helpers they sent.

The gardeners they sent - for no reason at all -broke branches of our healthy frangipani trees. They stepped indiscriminately into flower beds. They broke a number of our retic sprinklers.

Fortnightly cleaners were different each time, so that I kept orienting each new one to my needs, They were either unskilled or lazy. They would just swan around with the vacuum cleaner and would not move furniture to clean under them...even if, at the "assessment", the coordinator was shown that all my heavy furniture have coasters in them. They refused to dust because they were told "they might accidentally break an artefact or a family heirloom"!
One cleaner refused to climb a stable two-step ladder to reach and dust high bookshelves and the top of cabinets. She said all cleaners were trained to protect their joints and their backs.

I rang the Age Care Office in Perth, then the complaints section of the Canberra office. You won't believe what they told me - they have to uphold the policy of the service providers TO PROTECT THEIR STAFF! Well, I thought these services were for the Seniors - to protect them from wear and tear in tasks they can no longer perform for themselves, and to prolong their health and well-being at home. Whatever happened to TRAINING IN SAFE MANUAL HANDLING PROCEDURES? It seems to me that since providers have to take out insurance for their workers, they would not want anything to happen that would create demands on this insurance.

I am pleased and grateful that b the Albanese Government has decided to allocate 5.6 billion to aged care. The big question is whether this will encourage the "rorters" of the system that will prevent such help for its intended recipients.

I think and suggest that Seniors Discount Club should include in its campaigns/appeals " regular and effective monitoring of monies allocated and being spent in Aged Care Home Care Packages and tax-payer Community Help.

Thank you for your kind attention.

Emwick
Perth, WA

 

[mylittletibbies]

AND... the maximum earnings permitted on a pension is $180 a fortnight, that's $90 a WEEK - less than 5% of a basic pension.

According to Google your payment is reduced by 50 cents for each $ your gross income is over $480 per fortnight.

 

[GillyH]

I get a gardener once every 3wks . Cleaner once every 2wks,took 8wks to get results for a visit from occupational Therapy for 2nd Oct. The cost for the 2 services I get are reasonable will probably need more help in the future to remain in my own home

They are income based so people on a pension the cost is kept to a minimum, the government or MY AGED CARE covers the bulk of it. It is also cheaper for the government to keep people in their own homes. Glad we live in a lucky country No pension in Asia but they look after their own!

 

[GillyH]

I have been reading all the feedback on accessing the Federal Government's aged care initiatives - the Home Care Packages and the Home Assistant program for services like house-cleaning, gutter-cleaning and gardening (really just lawn-mowing). Only last night with the TV news and in today's newspapers, Canberra announced " the greatest improvement in aged care in 30 years" with the allocation of a $5.6 billion reform package. In light of the hundreds of Seniors who applied and are still waiting for these packages, I would describe this grant as "a catch up" measure on the part of our politicians and lawyers.

I definitely hope it will be a great "improvement " and a much-needed "reform". The biggest obstacles to its accessibility and efficacy are (1) the sheer number of aged people who need assistance (2)) the scarcity of well trained care workers who have the right attitude towards their role and their duties and (c) Government's careful monitoring of the use of monies by approved service providers.

I write as one who worked at my local shire council when these care packages were first made available, initially monies and responsibility for them were granted by the Commonwealth to shire councils. I was recruited by my local council specifically to liaise with Seniors who needed personal care or help around the home, or both. (Prior to this, I was working at the Council of the Ageing, WA Branch). I was also tasked by the council to recruit Carers for the home packages, to be trained and supervised by the council. Then, a special unit was formed to cater to multicultural Seniors - to explain and advise on the help they could access and assign appropriate personnel to them. This meant that if we recruited Carers for an ethnic client, the applicant Carer had to speak in that particular client'language and be able to cook t
dishes in thehe client's native cuisine.

At the time, we catered mostly to western-oriented Seniors, as there were few Asian groups to cater to - except the Chinese. For the latter, we closely liaised with the Chung Wa Association. But, on the whole we tried to recruit and train Carers to help Aussie,Seniors and those from an Italian, Croatian, Polish, Greek, German and Hungarian backgrounds. Knowledge of their home language and cuisine truly contributed to their health and well-being.

When the plight of disadvantaged Seniors were brought to our attention ,
we would liaise with the Aged Care Assessment Team of either Royal Perth Hospital or Bentley Hospital. I attended these assessments and continued to liaise with them until the Care Packages were put in place. More often than not, referrals t us would come from clients' GPs.

Unfortunately, the service changed when the Commonwealth transferred the funding from local councils to "privatised" entities. While I emphasise that this does NOT apply to a number of private agencies, the "pursuit of the dollar" and not primarily the Seniors' welfare and comfort has guided service providers.

About two years ago, I helped a friend to apply for a Home Care Package as she had a stroke and had been in a coma for 6 days. Royal Perth Hospital's ACAT Team facilitated receipt of a Level Four Home Care Package. As it is unethical to name the package provider here, you have to trust me on this.
At first, everything went smoothly. After six months, the recipient rang management at her provider and said that, perhaps, they should lower her
needs to either Levels 1 or 2, as she could already do a lot of things herself. She also felt it was unfair to continue with Level Four with so many on the waiting list and even more unable to access it. The Provider's response? She was told not to upset the apple cart that would, in turn, upset their liaison and paperwork with the Aged Care Department.

So my friend has continued with the Level Four package that continue provide
her with Carers who don't clean properly, lazy gardeners and "companions"
who go on unnecessary shopping trips with her, spend their time just conversing with her and even accompany her daughter on a fishing trip!
Towards June and tax time, in order to continue justifying the monies they get, they buy her a new fridge, a microwave and a washing machine - which she does not need because her own appliances are still in good nick.

Also two years ago, my husband had a heart attack. He suffers from a number of age-related problems at age 80. I have fibromyalgia, diabetes, fibromyalgia and high blood pressure problems. Do you think I could get a Home Care Package? No...an irony for one who once worked to help people access them!

My husband and I were given services on their Community Help program but ended up having to dismiss the helpers they sent.

The gardeners they sent - for no reason at all -broke branches of our healthy frangipani trees. They stepped indiscriminately into flower beds. They broke a number of our retic sprinklers.

Fortnightly cleaners were different each time, so that I kept orienting each new one to my needs, They were either unskilled or lazy. They would just swan around with the vacuum cleaner and would not move furniture to clean under them...even if, at the "assessment", the coordinator was shown that all my heavy furniture have coasters in them. They refused to dust because they were told "they might accidentally break an artefact or a family heirloom"!
One cleaner refused to climb a stable two-step ladder to reach and dust high bookshelves and the top of cabinets. She said all cleaners were trained to protect their joints and their backs.

I rang the Age Care Office in Perth, then the complaints section of the Canberra office. You won't believe what they told me - they have to uphold the policy of the service providers TO PROTECT THEIR STAFF! Well, I thought these services were for the Seniors - to protect them from wear and tear in tasks they can no longer perform for themselves, and to prolong their health and well-being at home. Whatever happened to TRAINING IN SAFE MANUAL HANDLING PROCEDURES? It seems to me that since providers have to take out insurance for their workers, they would not want anything to happen that would create demands on this insurance.

I am pleased and grateful that b the Albanese Government has decided to allocate 5.6 billion to aged care. The big question is whether this will encourage the "rorters" of the system that will prevent such help for its intended recipients.

I think and suggest that Seniors Discount Club should include in its campaigns/appeals " regular and effective monitoring of monies allocated and being spent in Aged Care Home Care Packages and tax-payer Community Help.

Thank you for your kind attention.

Emwick
Perth, WA

Not all of us are lazy, I have been doing this work for 7 years, it is a shame you and your friend have had a negative experience. There are many rules we have to follow, I made a earlier comment about moving furniture to do this 8 hours a day I would be on compo with a bad back!

 

[Macarj]

The Government should have been planning this decades ago they knew baby boomers would be the largest group falling into this care requirement age

 

[Emwick]

I have read the feedback from Seniors Discount members and I fully sympathise with their concerns and can relate to the experiences of those who managed to access the Aged Care Home Packages and Community Care in terms of cleaning, domestic jobs and gardening. I would like to share my two-cents'worth of opinion - both as a former Provider and as a short-term Client.

When the Commonwealth Government first offered these care packages, the monies and their management were initially entrusted to the Shire Councils. I was ending my work stint at the Council of the Ageing, WA, when my local council recruited me to advertise these packages to Seniors and their families. I also had to help with the management of their care once they accessed these packages. With four other "Supervisors", I received applications, liaised with prospective clients' GPs and the Aged Care Assessment Teams (ACATs) based at the Royal Perth Hospital, Bentley Hospital and Fremantle Hospital in Perth.

We recruited Carers who showed an interest in Seniors' welfare. They were willing to undergo training in basic care skills and proper manual handling procedures, and were happy to engage in tasks of a domestic nature. As we also had a number of clients from multicultural backgrounds, we recruited Carers who would be familiar with both the language and the cuisine of these clients. At the time, we catered to only one vulnerable Asian group - the Chinese - closely liaising with the Chung Wa Association. Apart from Australian-born clients, we attended to the care needs of Italian, Polish, Greek, Dutch, Croatian, Macedonian and Hungarian Seniors, and anyone else who applied within the Shire's catchment area.

Everything went well. The Carers we recruited were happy in their jobs and and were proud in their professional capacity to help Seniors. The service was open to ALL and recipients were charged according to their means. There was no discrimination of the wealthy, self-funded retirees. I guess this was based on the assumption that during their work life they had already contributed their fair share of taxes.

Unfortunately, things didn't change for the better when the Federal Government decided to hand management of these care packages away from Local Government and into "private" hands. As often happens with most programs involving large sums of money via Government grants, a proliferation of private organisations sprang up to "administer" these funds. Sadly, the situation has led to greedy entrepreneurs who are "rorting" the system - both on the part of managers and the clients. So, though the $5.6 billion of added monies is to be happily received by the Aged Care sector, this could also lead to increased rorting in the system.

Here's a case in point. Some years ago, I guided a friend's family in how to apply for a Home Care package. She had a stroke and was in a coma for six days at Royal Perth Hospital. The hospital's ACAT team authorised for her to get the top package, a Level 4. After six months, she informed her provider that, perhaps, they could now transfer her to a lower package of care, like Levels 1 or 2. She felt she had fully recovered and could again do most things herself. She was also aware of the long waiting list for Home Care and felt someone else could use her Level 4. They told her to keep quiet and "not upset the apple cart", as this, in turn, would mess up their paper work and their liaison/procedures with the Aged Care Department.

So now, my friend continues to "use up" her Carers' time chatting leisurely over coffee breaks, unnecessary shopping trips and even a fishing trip with her daughter. As for cleaning, cooking and gardening, she complains that they no longer attend to these tasks professionally, certainly leaving a lot to be desired. No use complaining to the care provider - they just send her a new person each time.

Then, come June and tax time, the provider informed her that there was still a lot of unspent money in her allocation. So what do they do? They bought her a brand new microwave, a fridge and a washing machine she does not need because she already has her own appliances "in good nick".

So, that is where our taxpayers' money goes. In my own personal experience as a Client, I join the 68,000+ or so Seniors on the waiting list. I find it very ironic that now when hubby and I have our health concerns, I cannot access the care packages I once facilitated for other people. For some weeks, we were offered a gardener and a house cleaner thry the Community Help program (as distinct from Home Care Packages). But as reported by some of you here, they are unskilled, or lazy, or both. They refuse to move furniture while cleaning, even if my heavy furniture are all fitted with wheels. They refuse to dust because their provider said they " might break an artefact or a family heirloom". Several providers have adopted a policy that their Carers "must not bend, twist their bodies, push or pull heavy things to protect THEIR backs and vital muscles". One cleaner refused to climb a sturdy two-step ladder to dust overhead bookshelves for the very same reason! This is the kind of "help" they are offering. So I have discontinued the service from two different providers who Aged Care Dept. recommended to me.

I wonder, will this fresh allocation of taxpayers' money bring the genuine relief that Seniors' need? Perhaps this is one other campaign issue for Seniors' Discount Club to consider: the careful monitoring of public money being spent by Home Care Providers.

Emwick

 

[mOiOz]

The Government should have been planning this decades ago they knew baby boomers would be the largest group falling into this care requirement age

I actually spoke to them a few months back and told them exactly that!!!

 

[marni]

‘Monthly, it's going to cost me $106,’ Rose said.

‘That's a lot of money thinking about it.’

I don't know where else you could get a service to come to your home for $26.50 a week

Nor having
Nursing home accommodation

 

[GillyH]

The Government should have been planning this decades ago they knew baby boomers would be the largest group falling into this care requirement age

The Australian Government is behind with lots of forward planning, Parts of Europe had a retirement contribution over 65 years ago. It was funding your pension scheme in the UK. It wasn't free. The Medicare & Aged Care system has been running for years overseas, but there is alot of cracks it's not working, hopefully the Australian government will sit up and take notice. Private health care is very costly, the only winners are the funds we are bullied into joining. I am glad we have it, I would hate to be in pain on a waiting list for years for a knee or hip replacement. It is cheaper & healthier to stay in your own home as we age for people and the government.

 

[GillyH]

Still better than nothing and I don't see why people who rely on taxpayers to receive their pension payment should object to contributing something towards the taxation system
that provides that pension.

Very well said. I have contributed Tax for 50 years, now close to retirement. I have worked very hard to get a decent super, earning very low paying jobs for most of my life. I may or may not get a pension. Our children will not get a pension hopefully their superannuation contributions will support them when they finally retire at 70-80 they won't enjoy retirement!

 

[mOiOz]

I have read the feedback from Seniors Discount members and I fully sympathise with their concerns and can relate to the experiences of those who managed to access the Aged Care Home Packages and Community Care in terms of cleaning, domestic jobs and gardening. I would like to share my two-cents'worth of opinion - both as a former Provider and as a short-term Client.

When the Commonwealth Government first offered these care packages, the monies and their management were initially entrusted to the Shire Councils. I was ending my work stint at the Council of the Ageing, WA, when my local council recruited me to advertise these packages to Seniors and their families. I also had to help with the management of their care once they accessed these packages. With four other "Supervisors", I received applications, liaised with prospective clients' GPs and the Aged Care Assessment Teams (ACATs) based at the Royal Perth Hospital, Bentley Hospital and Fremantle Hospital in Perth.

We recruited Carers who showed an interest in Seniors' welfare. They were willing to undergo training in basic care skills and proper manual handling procedures, and were happy to engage in tasks of a domestic nature. As we also had a number of clients from multicultural backgrounds, we recruited Carers who would be familiar with both the language and the cuisine of these clients. At the time, we catered to only one vulnerable Asian group - the Chinese - closely liaising with the Chung Wa Association. Apart from Australian-born clients, we attended to the care needs of Italian, Polish, Greek, Dutch, Croatian, Macedonian and Hungarian Seniors, and anyone else who applied within the Shire's catchment area.

Everything went well. The Carers we recruited were happy in their jobs and and were proud in their professional capacity to help Seniors. The service was open to ALL and recipients were charged according to their means. There was no discrimination of the wealthy, self-funded retirees. I guess this was based on the assumption that during their work life they had already contributed their fair share of taxes.

Unfortunately, things didn't change for the better when the Federal Government decided to hand management of these care packages away from Local Government and into "private" hands. As often happens with most programs involving large sums of money via Government grants, a proliferation of private organisations sprang up to "administer" these funds. Sadly, the situation has led to greedy entrepreneurs who are "rorting" the system - both on the part of managers and the clients. So, though the $5.6 billion of added monies is to be happily received by the Aged Care sector, this could also lead to increased rorting in the system.

Here's a case in point. Some years ago, I guided a friend's family in how to apply for a Home Care package. She had a stroke and was in a coma for six days at Royal Perth Hospital. The hospital's ACAT team authorised for her to get the top package, a Level 4. After six months, she informed her provider that, perhaps, they could now transfer her to a lower package of care, like Levels 1 or 2. She felt she had fully recovered and could again do most things herself. She was also aware of the long waiting list for Home Care and felt someone else could use her Level 4. They told her to keep quiet and "not upset the apple cart", as this, in turn, would mess up their paper work and their liaison/procedures with the Aged Care Department.

So now, my friend continues to "use up" her Carers' time chatting leisurely over coffee breaks, unnecessary shopping trips and even a fishing trip with her daughter. As for cleaning, cooking and gardening, she complains that they no longer attend to these tasks professionally, certainly leaving a lot to be desired. No use complaining to the care provider - they just send her a new person each time.

Then, come June and tax time, the provider informed her that there was still a lot of unspent money in her allocation. So what do they do? They bought her a brand new microwave, a fridge and a washing machine she does not need because she already has her own appliances "in good nick".

So, that is where our taxpayers' money goes. In my own personal experience as a Client, I join the 68,000+ or so Seniors on the waiting list. I find it very ironic that now when hubby and I have our health concerns, I cannot access the care packages I once facilitated for other people. For some weeks, we were offered a gardener and a house cleaner thry the Community Help program (as distinct from Home Care Packages). But as reported by some of you here, they are unskilled, or lazy, or both. They refuse to move furniture while cleaning, even if my heavy furniture are all fitted with wheels. They refuse to dust because their provider said they " might break an artefact or a family heirloom". Several providers have adopted a policy that their Carers "must not bend, twist their bodies, push or pull heavy things to protect THEIR backs and vital muscles". One cleaner refused to climb a sturdy two-step ladder to dust overhead bookshelves for the very same reason! This is the kind of "help" they are offering. So I have discontinued the service from two different providers who Aged Care Dept. recommended to me.

I wonder, will this fresh allocation of taxpayers' money bring the genuine relief that Seniors' need? Perhaps this is one other campaign issue for Seniors' Discount Club to consider: the careful monitoring of public money being spent by Home Care Providers.

Emwick

I think we have the same Care Company, as I was told exactly what you said above regarding limits of cleaning, You left out a few more: Quote verbatim - "They are NOT Cleaners, they are 'Domestic Assistants' and are not permitted to scrub or move anything, including ornaments".
Fortunately, up to now, (only been 7 months) I have had one particular cleaner most of the time, who does an extraordinary job every fortnight, considering it's in just 90 minutes.

 

[GillyH]

I think we have the same Care Company, as I was told exactly what you said above regarding limits of cleaning, You left out a few more: Quote verbatim - "They are NOT Cleaners, they are 'Domestic Assistants' and are not permitted to scrub or move anything, including ornaments".
Fortunately, up to now, (only been 7 months) I have had one particular cleaner most of the time, who does an extraordinary job every fortnight, considering it's in just 90 minutes.

I thought my job title was support worker! Yes I work in home help 7 have done for 7 years

 

[mOiOz]

I thought my job title was support worker! Yes I work in home help 7 have done for 7 years

That was a reference from a Care Company manager regarding the cleaners only, not the carers. Some carers do get offended at being called cleaners. So, because most do both jobs nowadays... it is fitting.
Regardless...., "A rose by any other name, smells just as sweet."
Thank you for helping others... highly commendable.