The federal budget was arguably not cause for great celebration for the aged care sector.
Certainly, the Government did recognise that older Australians are hurting from the cost-of-living crunch and did take steps to alleviate some of that.
But while COTA Australia welcomed some of that relief – particularly the freezing of prescription costs – we feel it also missed some opportunities to provide greater certainty and relief for seniors and better support the aged care sector.
Here are the top-five highlights for the sector as I saw them:
- an extra $2.2 billion over five years to the sector, most of which is for improvement of digital systems and ICT infrastructure to prepare for the Aged Care Act, the new Support at Home Program and Single Assessment system from 1 July 2025
- an extra 24,100 home care packages for 2024-25 – an increase of 9.3 per cent from 2023
- funding to improve access to health care in residential aged care, including hospital outreach, virtual care, upskilling the residential care workforce, and supporting the Transition Care Program
- $65.6 million over four years to attract and retain aged care workers, collect better data and improve outcomes for people receiving aged care services
- $21.6 million over three years to extend the Home Care Workforce Support Program to aid the growth of the care and support workforce in thin markets.
An extra 24,100 home care packages sounds impressive, but it is not enough to meet either the growing demand, or the vital need to reduce wait times. It’s actually about half the increase in previous budgets.
The department says this measure will reduce wait times to an average of six months, but we argue that no one needing support should have to wait longer than 30 days of being assessed.
Sadly, many people are waiting more than a year for home care services. People should not be left stranded in hospital, forced into aged care, or die waiting for support that never comes.
But most disappointing was the announcement that the new Aged Care Act won’t start until 1 July 2025 – a year away. So, we have a finishing line in sight, but still no starting line for the parliamentary processes.
It’s now up to politicians
This Act was the top recommendation out of the aged care royal commission handed down more than three years ago.
Older Australians need certainty on the care they will receive, and need a guarantee that what they will be asked to pay is fair.
It’s now up to politicians to ensure that happens by the end of 2024 so the sector is ready to implement it from 1 July 2025.
Patricia Sparrow is chief executive of Council On The Ageing Australia
More stakeholder views from this edition
- Tom Symondson: It’s time for all to get behind aged care
- Christina Wyatt: Reform impacts on occupational therapy
- Dr Claudia Myer: Sustainability depends on careful implementation
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