Aged in long wait for care

E L D E R L Y Q u e e n s l a n d e r s face longer delays for home care, with the waiting list blowing out by more than 3000 in just six months.

As the Federal Government plans a royal commission into the crisis in aged care, figures show there are now more than 22,000 Queenslanders waiting for assistance, with many put on hold for a year or more.

The delays are worst for those assessed as needing the highest level of in- home care, with those in the two most serious categories now facing delays of 12 months or more before they receive funding under the Federal Government’s home care program.

Government data reveals the number of Queenslanders waiting for funding packages jumped from 19,585 at December 31, 2017 to 22,804 at the end of June 2018. Close to 80 per cent were in the most serious two categories.

The delays come as Prime Minister Scott Morrison has vowed to target improvements to aged care in his pitch to voters ahead of the next election.

Opposition Ageing spokeswoman Julie Collins said the Government had failed to address worsening waiting times.

“The Prime Minister has said he would make aged care a focus of his Government but older Queenslanders are waiting longer and longer for care,” she said. “Sadly, this means more older Queenslanders are being forced into residential aged care and into emergency departments instead of getting the home care they need.”

It is understood the Government expects the waiting list to grow further and will have to pledge extra funding to meet growing demand.