Imagine being told you qualify for essential support to help you remain safe and independent at home—only to learn the wait for that help could stretch into years.

For many older Australians, this isn’t a distant worry but a daily reality that shapes how they live right now.

An estimated 87,000 older Australians have been approved for a government-funded home care package, but are still stuck on a waiting list.

These packages are designed to help with everyday essentials—bathing, meals, medication, cleaning, transport—so people can live at home, rather than being forced into residential care or hospital.

But with the current backlog, many are left in limbo, and some may never receive the support they desperately need.

Around 87,000 older Australians are waiting for home care packages, with delays stretching up to two years. Credit: Ridofranz / iStock

Take Graham Paxton, for example. At 68, he’s been told he qualifies for the highest level of home care support.

But he’s also been told he has just one to two years to live due to a serious health condition.

A year has already passed since his approval, and his wife Kim, 66, is still waiting for the help that would allow her to care for him at home.

'He might get it when he’s not around to get it,' Kim says, voicing a fear that’s all too common among families in their situation.

Graham’s story is far from unique. Advocacy groups and politicians warn that the waitlist could balloon to 100,000 by November.

That means more older Australians living unsafely, being forced into aged care before they’re ready, or ending up in hospital—sometimes with tragic consequences.

The government has promised to release more than 80,000 new home care places nationwide from November, when the new Aged Care Act comes into effect.

But for many, that’s simply not soon enough. Crossbench senators and advocacy groups are pushing for the government to act now, not later, to prevent more people from 'potentially dying waiting for a package'.

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As Senator David Pocock puts it, 'It’s a ration system. The only way you get a package is if someone who currently has one dies and frees it up.

I just think it’s an appalling way to deal with older Australians who are trying to age at home with dignity.'

The impact of these delays isn’t just felt by those waiting for care—it ripples out to their families and carers.

Kim, for instance, is juggling full-time work, caring for Graham, and looking after her 92-year-old mother next door.

She’s exhausted, worried, and feels trapped by a system that’s supposed to help.

'I can cook all the food, but I’m not sure if he could actually boil a jug to make a cup of tea,' Kim said.

'I came home one day and one of the elements was on in the oven. He didn’t realise he left it on. I think I’m at the lower end of the scale. I personally don’t think he needs 24-7 care, but he can’t sit at home for eight hours a day when I’m not there.'

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Other carers have shared similar stories with a Senate inquiry into the Aged Care Act. Many are at breaking point, forced to cut back on work or quit altogether, and living in constant fear for their loved ones’ safety.

One carer wrote: 'My mum had a stroke last year. She’s had seven falls since last July and rapid memory loss and confusion. My heart breaks each time I leave her to go to work as she looks like a lost child but I need to work. I am super tired, stressed and worried. Mum is declining and I am terrified I will lose her before help comes.'

The current system, critics say, is failing the very people it was designed to help. Older Australians who have worked hard, paid taxes, and contributed to their communities are now being left to 'languish' on waiting lists.

And when home care isn’t available, the only alternative is often a move into residential care—something many want to avoid for as long as possible.

Senator Penny Allman-Payne sums it up: 'If you can’t get access to a home care package in a timely way, then you start getting pushed towards residential aged care because you can’t cope.'

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If you or a loved one is waiting for a home care package, don’t be afraid to speak up.

Contact your local MP, share your story with advocacy groups, and consider making a submission to the Senate inquiry.

The more voices that are heard, the harder it is for the government to ignore the problem.

Key Takeaways

• Around 87,000 older Australians are currently waiting for government-approved home care packages, with some waiting up to two years for vital support at home.
• Long delays are leaving elderly people at risk of injury or premature entry into residential care, and are placing huge stress on unpaid carers who are reaching breaking point.
• The federal government plans to release over 80,000 new home care places from November under the new Aged Care Act, but crossbenchers and advocacy groups argue that immediate action is needed to address the current crisis before then.
• The lack of timely home care support is forcing some older Australians into hospital stays or dangerous living situations, highlighting the urgent need for greater accountability and faster reforms to aged care services.

Have you or someone you know been affected by delays in the home care system? How has it impacted your life, and what changes would you like to see? Share your experiences and thoughts in the comments below.

Read more: Calls grow louder for the government to stop stalling on home care

 

[johno cpfc]

My darling wife of 61 years is suffering from Dementia and has been approved for a level 3 home package but that approval was as the My aged care people just told me was last Feb and still is waiting for the allocation .
i spoke to a representative yesterday and was told it may take a further 6 months before the allocation of funds, i calmly told him the she may be dead before that happens, the original approval was last February and we are still waiting. So much for the promise of help haha.