MEDIA RELEASE: Rationing of aged care places continues to fail older Australians

New independent figures on the status of Australia’s aged care system reveals almost a third of older people requiring aged care still wait three months to receive it.

The information, released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), shows again why it is so critical to end the arbitrary system which rations aged care places rather than providing immediate care to those that need it.

Ian Yates, Chief Executive of leading seniors advocate COTA Australia, called on the Abbott Government to urgently address this issue which leaves too many older people waiting too long for appropriate care.

“When an older person is assessed as requiring care, it means they are in need of immediate support in their daily living and three months is just too long to have to wait for assistance,” Mr Yates said.

“The result is pressure on our hospitals, pressure on families and partners, and unnecessary stress and anxiety for the older person.

“Bringing an end to the rationing of aged care places, as recommended by the Productivity Commission and broadly supported by the aged care sector, is key to providing the care our loved ones need, when they need it.

“Prior to the election, the Coalition committed to be guided by the Productivity Commission’s Caring for Older Australians report in setting future policy direction, as well as cutting red tape in the sector.

“We urge them to now actively look to the abolition of aged care rationing which would fulfil both promises.

“As a start, the inadequacy of the aged care system should be considered in the recently announced Commission of Audit.

“The current system allows only the first 113 people in 1000 over 70 a right to a care place. While this is progressively being lifted to 125 per 1000 by 2021 it will still leave many frail older people in need.

“Our parents and grandparent deserve to be treated better in the later years of their lives.”

Mr Yates said AIHW also showed the growth of demand for community based care which the new Federal government needs to continue to support.

“There is no doubt many more older people are preferring to stay in their own homes for as long as possible rather than move into residential care,” Mr Yates said.

“The AIHW figures show one in every three aged care package now is for community based care.

“We need to support this trend by providing even greater numbers of home based aged care packages.”

Media contact: Ian Yates 0418 835 439, Jane Garcia 0434 489 533

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