The long wait for home care packages is forcing some older people to enter residential care prematurely because of carer burn-out and lack of reablement support, the aged care royal commission has heard.

The long wait for home care packages is forcing some older people to enter residential care prematurely because of carer burn-out and lack of reablement support, the aged care royal commission has heard.
Peak industry body Leading Aged Care Services has called for measures to encourage Australians who are waiting for home care to use their home equity to pay for services in its budget submission.
The first of 35 new Specialist Dementia Care Units for people whose symptoms are too severe to be adequately cared for by mainstream services is expected to start receiving residents this year.
Two companies that provided workers to an Adelaide home care company have been fined a total of more than $200,000 over a sham contracting scheme that resulted in the underpayment of four care workers.
The federal government spent $5.1 billion on home care and home support services in the past year, new figures show, up from $4.5 billion in 2016-17 and $3.8 billion five years ago.
Australia’s “death doulas” are taking the first steps towards becoming an incorporated national body and hope to gain accreditation over the next year, as they seek an established role in the palliative care process.