Over 68,000 seniors in limbo as waitlist for home care packages surges
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Home care packages are a lifeline for many seniors, offering services that enable them to maintain their independence and dignity while living in their homes.
These services can include nursing, meal preparation, help with personal care, and assistance with household chores, which provide the necessary support to delay or even prevent the need for residential aged care.
However, the plight of older Australians in need of support at home has become increasingly dire, with figures revealing that over 68,000 individuals are currently caught in a bottleneck, awaiting the allocation of a home care package (HCP).
This staggering number is more than double the 28,665 people in a similar situation around the same time last year, highlighting a troubling trend in the accessibility of essential in-home care services.
However, the Senate estimates have painted a concerning picture of the current state of affairs. By the end of last month, 68,109 people had been approved for a home care package but were still waiting for the support to materialise.
The list has been growing steadily, with about 51,000 people in limbo by December.
The Department of Health and Aged Care's Russell Herald acknowledged the increasing difficulty people are having accessing the level of care they require.
'We have seen a deterioration of access, particularly in the last six months,' he admitted.
While the reasons behind this significant change remain somewhat unclear, Herald speculated that the increased demand could be linked to the rising cost of living, which has made the additional support provided by HCPs even more critical.
‘If I was a betting man I would link the increased demand to the cost of living, so just taking that little bit of pressure off,’ he said.
‘If you look at the data and growth in referrals, the lion's share appears to be in domestic assistance, so your cleaning, etc. They tend to be more of your lower ends needs clients.’
Home care packages are categorised into four levels, each designed to meet varying care needs and providing different amounts of funding, ranging from $10,000 to just over $59,000 a year.
Level one is for individuals needing basic care, level two is for those with minimal care needed, level three is for people who need intermediate care, and level four is for those who need the most or high care.
As the waiting list has grown, so too have the wait times for these packages.
Officials disclosed that as of 31 May, 117 individuals were waiting for a level one package, 17,611 were waiting for level two, 36,524 were waiting for level three, and 13,857 were waiting for level four.
Accessing a level three package now takes nine to 12 months, a significant increase from the six to nine months wait time reported in June last year.
For those in need of a level four package, the wait time is six to nine months, up from one to three months in the previous year.
In response to the ballooning waitlist, the government announced earlier this year an additional 24,100 home care packages to be offered in 2024-25.
Aged Care Minister Anika Wells has assured that those classified as needing urgent care are receiving packages within a month.
The allocation of these additional packages is heavily skewed towards level three in an attempt to address the substantial wait times for this category.
Liberal Senator Anne Ruston inquired about the determining factor, or ‘catalyst’ behind those figures. Michael Lye, the Deputy Secretary of Ageing and Aged Care, clarified that officials believed these figures would aid in reducing wait times.
‘That is the best combination of extra packages to get to an average waitlist of six months,’ he said.
Thea Connolly from the department stated that most of the additional packages would be allocated to level three.
‘There is quite a wait for level three packages, so the allocation of the additional packages is heavily skewed towards level three and indeed subsidised by a reduction in level one and level two packages,’ she said.
The department aims to reduce wait times to six months for packages at any level.
How have you or your loved ones managed the wait for a home care package? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.
These services can include nursing, meal preparation, help with personal care, and assistance with household chores, which provide the necessary support to delay or even prevent the need for residential aged care.
However, the plight of older Australians in need of support at home has become increasingly dire, with figures revealing that over 68,000 individuals are currently caught in a bottleneck, awaiting the allocation of a home care package (HCP).
This staggering number is more than double the 28,665 people in a similar situation around the same time last year, highlighting a troubling trend in the accessibility of essential in-home care services.
However, the Senate estimates have painted a concerning picture of the current state of affairs. By the end of last month, 68,109 people had been approved for a home care package but were still waiting for the support to materialise.
The list has been growing steadily, with about 51,000 people in limbo by December.
Over 68,000 seniors are still waiting for home care packages. Credit: Shutterstock
The Department of Health and Aged Care's Russell Herald acknowledged the increasing difficulty people are having accessing the level of care they require.
'We have seen a deterioration of access, particularly in the last six months,' he admitted.
While the reasons behind this significant change remain somewhat unclear, Herald speculated that the increased demand could be linked to the rising cost of living, which has made the additional support provided by HCPs even more critical.
‘If I was a betting man I would link the increased demand to the cost of living, so just taking that little bit of pressure off,’ he said.
‘If you look at the data and growth in referrals, the lion's share appears to be in domestic assistance, so your cleaning, etc. They tend to be more of your lower ends needs clients.’
Home care packages are categorised into four levels, each designed to meet varying care needs and providing different amounts of funding, ranging from $10,000 to just over $59,000 a year.
Level one is for individuals needing basic care, level two is for those with minimal care needed, level three is for people who need intermediate care, and level four is for those who need the most or high care.
As the waiting list has grown, so too have the wait times for these packages.
Officials disclosed that as of 31 May, 117 individuals were waiting for a level one package, 17,611 were waiting for level two, 36,524 were waiting for level three, and 13,857 were waiting for level four.
Accessing a level three package now takes nine to 12 months, a significant increase from the six to nine months wait time reported in June last year.
For those in need of a level four package, the wait time is six to nine months, up from one to three months in the previous year.
In response to the ballooning waitlist, the government announced earlier this year an additional 24,100 home care packages to be offered in 2024-25.
Aged Care Minister Anika Wells has assured that those classified as needing urgent care are receiving packages within a month.
The allocation of these additional packages is heavily skewed towards level three in an attempt to address the substantial wait times for this category.
Liberal Senator Anne Ruston inquired about the determining factor, or ‘catalyst’ behind those figures. Michael Lye, the Deputy Secretary of Ageing and Aged Care, clarified that officials believed these figures would aid in reducing wait times.
‘That is the best combination of extra packages to get to an average waitlist of six months,’ he said.
Thea Connolly from the department stated that most of the additional packages would be allocated to level three.
‘There is quite a wait for level three packages, so the allocation of the additional packages is heavily skewed towards level three and indeed subsidised by a reduction in level one and level two packages,’ she said.
The department aims to reduce wait times to six months for packages at any level.
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