Large shortage in high-level home care, finds ROSA
Demand for level 4 home care packages overwhelming, indicating a need for strategic planning and long-term investment, say researchers.
Following recent reforms, new research from the Registry of Senior Australians research centre based at SAHMRI, has concluded that many older Australian’s care needs are being left unmet due to the supply of higher-level packages being unable to keep up with demand.
Dr Johannes Schwabe led the study, which was recently published in the Medical Journal of Australia, and collaborated with ROSA director Professor Maria Inacio and associate director, Professor Gillian Caughey on the research.
Dr Schwabe said that despite the reforms improving access to home care services, the rural and remote areas particularly affected by the continuous undersupply of the packages showcases the need for more work to be done in both workforce and services.
“With demand for higher-level care packages expected to grow, more strategic planning and long-term investment will be required to close the gap between supply and demand in the coming years,” Dr Schwabe said.
The report observed that the rate of HCPs provided to older Australians almost doubled between 2013 and 2021.
Rates of high-level care packages (level 4) remained largely unchanged while the biggest gains were seen in basic (level 1) to intermediate (level 3) care needs.
With the cost of packages ranging from $10,588 to $61,440 oer year for levels 1 and 4 respectively, they provide just under 8 hours of care per week.
A notable shift was recorded in the demographics of those receiving the packages, with a rise from 11 to 16 per cent in the portion of culturally and linguistically varied recipients.
Speaking to Australian Ageing Agenda, Dr Schwabe said that the results were surprising.
“Given the significant increase in funding for home care packages, we anticipated a rise in overall admissions and across all care levels,” he said. “However, the stable admission rate for the highest care level (level 4) was unexpected.”
The newly announced Support at Home program, which is set to commence in July 2025, home-based aged care supports will require more access and a carefully distributed workforce Australia-wide if peak home-based care for older Australians is to be provided in the future.
“In the future, reforms of the HCP program need to continue to close the gap between supply and demand, especially in higher-level packages,” Dr Schwabe told AAA.
“If we’re to truly support older Australians to successfully age in place, that is to live at home well for as long as possible, then this must be a priority.”
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