Every Australian has the right to the best possible healthcare. Unfortunately, there seems to be an invisible barrier that many of us face as we age – and that’s trying to get treatment and assistance from the government-funded healthcare system.

It was initially reported that the number of people who were said to have died while waiting on the federal government to allocate funding to help them stave off dire circumstances has reached thirty people per day — with the number potentially increasing with every passing day.

The Home Care Packages Program, a programme that elderly Australians can apply to use, offers four levels of care, from the most basic to the most advanced.

It is intended to offer growing levels of help with tasks like cleaning, taking medications, taking care of oneself, and running errands.

Ashley Schwarz, according to Simone O'Malveney, has a number of major medical issues, including vascular dementia and long-term diabetes. Credit: Nine.

The Department for Health and Aged Care was contacted by 9News to provide information on the size of the waiting list for the programme, the typical waiting time, and the number of applicants who were denied entry into the system, including how many passed away or entered residential care.

According to information obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, 50,496 elderly Australians passed away between July 1, 2017, and December 31, 2021, all while waiting for their claims to be granted.

Many months after their loved one had passed away, some families have informed 9News that they received letters informing them that their application had finally been granted.

In 2019, Simone O'Malveney had to wait for the money to arrive after being approved for financing for her sick father.

She recalled: 'When Dad was very ill in 2019... we were (saying), "Wow, we need help now."'

'He was assessed at (highest level) four pretty much straight away.'

'Then the funding didn't come through... 'til 2021.'

'If we hadn't been in Sydney, with extended family helping us, I don't know how we would have gotten through it.'

Ashley Schwarz explained that her father has a number of debilitating medical illnesses, such as long-term diabetes and vascular dementia, yet he refused to enter a facility because he prefered to live independently.

Mr Schwarz said: 'It's very important to me (to stay in my home) because I prefer it.'

'I don't have to learn new things. I got accustomed to how things are.'

O'Malveney chimed in: 'He saw his elderly relatives going into nursing homes when he was younger - and he's not happy about it.'

In 2019, Simone O'Malveney sought for financing for her sick father, but they had to wait for the application to be approved before they could receive the funds. Credit: Nine.

It was also reported that 57,892 people who were still on the waiting list had to choose to enter permanent residential care during the same 4.5-year timeframe.

Compared to this time last year, the average wait time has decreased to between three and six months.

Craig Gear, CEO of the Older Persons Advocacy Network, claims that it is a typical experience for elderly Australians.

He remarked: 'Older people tell us that they want to stay in their homes - they want to stay independent for as long as possible.'

Mr Gear acknowledged that while steady progress has been made, it is insufficient to cater to the growing demand.

'While we're seeing more packages come into the system, they're still not adequate and no-one should have to wait more than four weeks for the appropriate level of care,' he added.

'Older people should be expecting that the care that they need should be available when they need it.'

The advocate also mentioned the severe problem of staffing shortages.

'One of the biggest challenges is the availability of a highly skilled passionate workforce. We need initiatives to get people into the workforce,' Mr Gear remarked.

Key Takeaways

• Thirty older Australians have been dying each day while waiting for federal government funding to remain in their own homes.
• Some families have been sent letters about having an application approved months after their loved one has passed away.
• The average wait-time for a Home Care Package is now down to between three and six months, but this time last year it was six to nine months.

In a statement from her office, Minister of Aged Care Anika Wells addressed the situation and shared some pointers about the statistics and actions carried out by her team:

• Individuals with a high priority and an urgent need for a Home Care Package (HCP) are awarded their approved level HCP within a month.
• Applicants with a medium priority are given their approved level HCP within three to six months.
• The government is dedicated to ensuring that older Australians may age at home while getting access to the care they need at a far more acceptable rate.
• The rate of deaths among those waiting for an HCP is proportional to the mortality rate among the elderly population of Australia.
• In order to guarantee that their care needs are met while they wait for a package, those who are waiting for an HCP may also be authorised to enrol in other aged care programmes, such as the Commonwealth Home Support Programme, Short-Term Restorative Care Programme, and Transition Care Programme.

Elderly people receiving the proper care they need should be a human right. They have worked hard for years, and they deserve to live peacefully in retirement. Unfortunately, many elderly people do not receive the care they need. This is a travesty, and it needs to be addressed.

What are your thoughts on this? Do you think this problem should be prioritised? Better yet, do you know a loved one who struggles with this? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

 

[Macarj]

It's only going to get much worse as us baby boomers amble into older age

 

[myopinion]

Every Australian has the right to the best possible healthcare. Unfortunately, there seems to be an invisible barrier that many of us face as we age – and that’s trying to get treatment and assistance from the government-funded healthcare system.

It was initially reported that the number of people who were said to have died while waiting on the federal government to allocate funding to help them stave off dire circumstances has reached thirty people per day — with the number potentially increasing with every passing day.

The Home Care Packages Program, a programme that elderly Australians can apply to use, offers four levels of care, from the most basic to the most advanced.

It is intended to offer growing levels of help with tasks like cleaning, taking medications, taking care of oneself, and running errands.

Ashley Schwarz, according to Simone O'Malveney, has a number of major medical issues, including vascular dementia and long-term diabetes. Credit: Nine.

The Department for Health and Aged Care was contacted by 9News to provide information on the size of the waiting list for the programme, the typical waiting time, and the number of applicants who were denied entry into the system, including how many passed away or entered residential care.

According to information obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, 50,496 elderly Australians passed away between July 1, 2017, and December 31, 2021, all while waiting for their claims to be granted.

Many months after their loved one had passed away, some families have informed 9News that they received letters informing them that their application had finally been granted.

In 2019, Simone O'Malveney had to wait for the money to arrive after being approved for financing for her sick father.

She recalled: 'When Dad was very ill in 2019... we were (saying), "Wow, we need help now."'

'He was assessed at (highest level) four pretty much straight away.'

'Then the funding didn't come through... 'til 2021.'

'If we hadn't been in Sydney, with extended family helping us, I don't know how we would have gotten through it.'

Ashley Schwarz explained that her father has a number of debilitating medical illnesses, such as long-term diabetes and vascular dementia, yet he refused to enter a facility because he prefered to live independently.

Mr Schwarz said: 'It's very important to me (to stay in my home) because I prefer it.'

'I don't have to learn new things. I got accustomed to how things are.'

O'Malveney chimed in: 'He saw his elderly relatives going into nursing homes when he was younger - and he's not happy about it.'

In 2019, Simone O'Malveney sought for financing for her sick father, but they had to wait for the application to be approved before they could receive the funds. Credit: Nine.

It was also reported that 57,892 people who were still on the waiting list had to choose to enter permanent residential care during the same 4.5-year timeframe.

Compared to this time last year, the average wait time has decreased to between three and six months.

Craig Gear, CEO of the Older Persons Advocacy Network, claims that it is a typical experience for elderly Australians.

He remarked: 'Older people tell us that they want to stay in their homes - they want to stay independent for as long as possible.'

Mr Gear acknowledged that while steady progress has been made, it is insufficient to cater to the growing demand.

'While we're seeing more packages come into the system, they're still not adequate and no-one should have to wait more than four weeks for the appropriate level of care,' he added.

'Older people should be expecting that the care that they need should be available when they need it.'

The advocate also mentioned the severe problem of staffing shortages.

'One of the biggest challenges is the availability of a highly skilled passionate workforce. We need initiatives to get people into the workforce,' Mr Gear remarked.

Key Takeaways

• Thirty older Australians have been dying each day while waiting for federal government funding to remain in their own homes.
• Some families have been sent letters about having an application approved months after their loved one has passed away.
• The average wait-time for a Home Care Package is now down to between three and six months, but this time last year it was six to nine months.

In a statement from her office, Minister of Aged Care Anika Wells addressed the situation and shared some pointers about the statistics and actions carried out by her team:

• Individuals with a high priority and an urgent need for a Home Care Package (HCP) are awarded their approved level HCP within a month.
• Applicants with a medium priority are given their approved level HCP within three to six months.
• The government is dedicated to ensuring that older Australians may age at home while getting access to the care they need at a far more acceptable rate.
• The rate of deaths among those waiting for an HCP is proportional to the mortality rate among the elderly population of Australia.
• In order to guarantee that their care needs are met while they wait for a package, those who are waiting for an HCP may also be authorised to enrol in other aged care programmes, such as the Commonwealth Home Support Programme, Short-Term Restorative Care Programme, and Transition Care Programme.

Elderly people receiving the proper care they need should be a human right. They have worked hard for years, and they deserve to live peacefully in retirement. Unfortunately, many elderly people do not receive the care they need. This is a travesty, and it needs to be addressed.

What are your thoughts on this? Do you think this problem should be prioritised? Better yet, do you know a loved one who struggles with this? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

It's only going to get much worse as us baby boomers amble into older age

 

[myopinion]

Every Australian has the right to the best possible healthcare. Unfortunately, there seems to be an invisible barrier that many of us face as we age – and that’s trying to get treatment and assistance from the government-funded healthcare system.

It was initially reported that the number of people who were said to have died while waiting on the federal government to allocate funding to help them stave off dire circumstances has reached thirty people per day — with the number potentially increasing with every passing day.

The Home Care Packages Program, a programme that elderly Australians can apply to use, offers four levels of care, from the most basic to the most advanced.

It is intended to offer growing levels of help with tasks like cleaning, taking medications, taking care of oneself, and running errands.

Ashley Schwarz, according to Simone O'Malveney, has a number of major medical issues, including vascular dementia and long-term diabetes. Credit: Nine.

The Department for Health and Aged Care was contacted by 9News to provide information on the size of the waiting list for the programme, the typical waiting time, and the number of applicants who were denied entry into the system, including how many passed away or entered residential care.

According to information obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, 50,496 elderly Australians passed away between July 1, 2017, and December 31, 2021, all while waiting for their claims to be granted.

Many months after their loved one had passed away, some families have informed 9News that they received letters informing them that their application had finally been granted.

In 2019, Simone O'Malveney had to wait for the money to arrive after being approved for financing for her sick father.

She recalled: 'When Dad was very ill in 2019... we were (saying), "Wow, we need help now."'

'He was assessed at (highest level) four pretty much straight away.'

'Then the funding didn't come through... 'til 2021.'

'If we hadn't been in Sydney, with extended family helping us, I don't know how we would have gotten through it.'

Ashley Schwarz explained that her father has a number of debilitating medical illnesses, such as long-term diabetes and vascular dementia, yet he refused to enter a facility because he prefered to live independently.

Mr Schwarz said: 'It's very important to me (to stay in my home) because I prefer it.'

'I don't have to learn new things. I got accustomed to how things are.'

O'Malveney chimed in: 'He saw his elderly relatives going into nursing homes when he was younger - and he's not happy about it.'

In 2019, Simone O'Malveney sought for financing for her sick father, but they had to wait for the application to be approved before they could receive the funds. Credit: Nine.

It was also reported that 57,892 people who were still on the waiting list had to choose to enter permanent residential care during the same 4.5-year timeframe.

Compared to this time last year, the average wait time has decreased to between three and six months.

Craig Gear, CEO of the Older Persons Advocacy Network, claims that it is a typical experience for elderly Australians.

He remarked: 'Older people tell us that they want to stay in their homes - they want to stay independent for as long as possible.'

Mr Gear acknowledged that while steady progress has been made, it is insufficient to cater to the growing demand.

'While we're seeing more packages come into the system, they're still not adequate and no-one should have to wait more than four weeks for the appropriate level of care,' he added.

'Older people should be expecting that the care that they need should be available when they need it.'

The advocate also mentioned the severe problem of staffing shortages.

'One of the biggest challenges is the availability of a highly skilled passionate workforce. We need initiatives to get people into the workforce,' Mr Gear remarked.

Key Takeaways

• Thirty older Australians have been dying each day while waiting for federal government funding to remain in their own homes.
• Some families have been sent letters about having an application approved months after their loved one has passed away.
• The average wait-time for a Home Care Package is now down to between three and six months, but this time last year it was six to nine months.

In a statement from her office, Minister of Aged Care Anika Wells addressed the situation and shared some pointers about the statistics and actions carried out by her team:

• Individuals with a high priority and an urgent need for a Home Care Package (HCP) are awarded their approved level HCP within a month.
• Applicants with a medium priority are given their approved level HCP within three to six months.
• The government is dedicated to ensuring that older Australians may age at home while getting access to the care they need at a far more acceptable rate.
• The rate of deaths among those waiting for an HCP is proportional to the mortality rate among the elderly population of Australia.
• In order to guarantee that their care needs are met while they wait for a package, those who are waiting for an HCP may also be authorised to enrol in other aged care programmes, such as the Commonwealth Home Support Programme, Short-Term Restorative Care Programme, and Transition Care Programme.

Elderly people receiving the proper care they need should be a human right. They have worked hard for years, and they deserve to live peacefully in retirement. Unfortunately, many elderly people do not receive the care they need. This is a travesty, and it needs to be addressed.

What are your thoughts on this? Do you think this problem should be prioritised? Better yet, do you know a loved one who struggles with this? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

First you get the allocation of funds, which on the surface appear quite generous, but then when the service provider takes their bite there is not that much left. I also have an additional problem of getting the services I ask for. I live in what is classified as remote rural Victoria and the services are just not there.

 

[Dutchypom]

My friends in her 90’s, we have been waiting 11 weeks for a ACAT, assessment, chased it up again the other day, they are coming beginning of December, that will be 17 weeks waiting just to be assessed. Then the wait for the package. She needs the help now.
It’s all right to say , go on the commonwealth home package, but each thing you get , it cost so much, personal care, cleaning, physio, make and change the bed, transport, shopping, you can’t get all that. If you can’t afford it they don’t won’t to know.
There are some people out there , that are on a level 4, that are not using there funds as really needed, while other people , who are in more need are going with out .