An independent federal MP from NSW’s mid-North Coast has told parliament that regional communities need more assistance to help older people live independently.

Rob Oakeshott said Community Aged Care Packages (CACPs) and Extended Care at Home (EACH) packages are a “critically important” component of the aged care system.

“We have received on the mid-North Coast a good round of CACP and EACH packages, but if we are going to tackle this issue seriously there need to be greater resources provided through the Expenditure Review Committee and the budget process, particularly on the low and high care CACP and EACH packages,” he said.

“Please, Government, take that on board and find money wherever possible for regional aged-care living and for better independent lifestyle outcomes.”

The member for Lyne said another reason why more aged care places were needed was to prevent ‘bed blocking’ in public hospitals, which he described as “under strain”.

“If there is one change that the Commonwealth could make with regard to health and hospital reform, it is resolving the issue of aged-care type patients being in beds in the public hospital system of this country,” he said.

“It is a lower level of appropriate care for the aged-care patients involved, who do not need to be in hospital.” 

Mr Oakeshott also suggested that the government adopt a national insurance scheme for aged care in its response to the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission’s (NHHRC) 2009 report.