The Federal Government has this morning announced that more than 17,500 new aged care places will be delivered across the country, worth an estimated $833 million, following the conclusion of the 2014 Aged Care Approvals Round (ACAR).
The funding round saw a huge demand from residential aged care providers, Assistant Minister for Social Services Mitch Fifield said.
“This was the highest number of residential aged care places sought through an ACAR since 2007,” he said.
“It was a highly competitive round clearly demonstrating renewed interest in aged care, following recent changes aimed at supporting service viability, reducing their compliance burden and increasing business flexibility.”
Some 11,196 new residential aged care places worth an estimated $660.5 million in annual recurrent funding, and 6,653 new home care places, worth an estimated $173.1 million in annual recurrent funding, were provided.
“This is an increase from the 5,835 home care places allocated last year,” Senator Fifield said.
New or existing providers have been allocated $103 million in capital grants to help them establish new services or upgrade their facilities.
“The ACAR will also have a significant impact supporting people with dementia, with an additional 1,131 residential aged care places and 200 home care places dedicated to clients living with dementia.”