Budget response – funding announcements welcomed but crucial support needed to help Australians access care at home

Statement attributable to Benetas CEO, Sandra Hills OAM:

Benetas welcomes new funding for the aged care sector announced in the Federal Budget while expressing concern about missed opportunities to support more older Australians to access the care they deserve.

While we acknowledge the Government’s commitment to reform, significantly more investment is needed to cover the true cost for providers to support older people to access and navigate the complexity of our aged care system.

With waiting lists for home care services continuing to grow significantly, the current care management cap for Support at Home does not adequately reflect the level of support that older people require to ensure they are able to access the services they need.

Increasing the cap to at least 15 percent would enable the sector to provide crucial support and advice for those on waiting lists, to help them maintain and improve their wellbeing.

We have also seen call volumes increase by 15% since the implementation of the new Aged Care Act, and by 38% compared to this time last year, reflecting the additional requirements associated with helping residents and clients understand the changes.

While measures to support the sector’s transition to the new aged care system are welcomed, we need greater transparency regarding the true status and composition of the current waitlists, and more investment in the Commonwealth Home Support Program.

The government’s once in a generation reforms were focussed on keeping Australians at home longer.

CHSP is the first opportunity to provide vital intervention and support to set older people up appropriately, so they can age well in their homes, and ultimately alleviates pressure on an already stretched health and aged care system.

We owe it to older Australians to ensure the intent of these reforms are realised and that we are appropriately supporting older Australians to navigate the reforms.