Significant challenges persist for older people on the Support at Home program despite the much-anticipated new Aged Care Act being in effect for more than 100 days.
That’s according to the Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN), who supported almost 18,000 cases in the last quarter.
OPAN CEO Craig Sear said a wide range of issues remain unsolved and urgent action is required if Support at Home is to realise its fundamental intent: enabling older people to remain living safely and independently in their homes and communities.
“Addressing long wait times; unaffordable prices for essential services; and a lack of cottage respite, are among the main implementation issues that require urgent action from the Albanese Government,” Mr Gear said.
“Greater funding is needed to alleviate the assessment and reassessment wait times, which show no sign of abating.”
“We also call on the government to provide assessors with the ability to override the algorithmic decision based on clinical judgement where it is clear the algorithm has underassessed their care needs. The uncertainty and confusion being experienced by older people is unfair and detrimental to their wellbeing.”
Mr Gear said cottage respite, which was previously available under the old Act, must be immediately reincluded to Support at Home.
“The unavailability of cottage respite under Support at Home could lead to unnecessary hospitalisations and premature entry to residential care,” Mr Gear said.
“Older people deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. Although Support at Home enshrines these principles through the Statement of Rights, it is abundantly clear that the program is failing to meet community expectations.”