‘Shameful’ home care wait list

MP says it’s shameful as 1610 languish

ELDERLY Geelong residents are languishing on “unacceptably long” wait lists for in-home care, with advocacy groups concerned older people are dying waiting.

In southwest Victoria on June 30, there were 1610 approved people still waiting to receive their care package, new federal government data reveals.

The federally-funded home-care package system provides services to help people avoid moving into residential care.

Corio MP and deputy Labor Leader Richard Marles said it was “shameful” that so many older vulnerable people could not get the care they needed.

ELDERLY Geelong residents are languishing on “unacceptably long” wait lists for inhome care, with advocacy groups concerned older people are dying waiting.

In southwest Victoria on June 30, there were 1610 approved people still waiting to receive their care package, new federal government data reveals.

The federally-funded home care package system provides services to help people avoid moving into residential care.

The packages come in four levels, ranging from one to four, for people with high-level care needs.

Geelong resident Stephanie, 78, provided 24-hour care for her husband Neville, 82, who has terminal cancer, while waiting for a package.

Stephanie, who did not want her surname published, said they waited almost a year between package approval and obtaining the level-two package in June.

Neville’s care was escalated to level three in August, and they are now waiting to be taken up to level four.

The package can help give Stephanie respite through a carer, or provide assistance with tasks like cleaning.

“We are grateful for the package but the wait period seems to be excessive,” Stephanie said.

Corio MP and deputy Labor leader Richard Marles said it was “shameful” that in a wealthy country such as Australia so many older vulnerable people could not get the care they needed.

Council on the Ageing Australia welcomed the recent first reduction in people waiting for home care packages, but said there were still far too many people waiting more than 18 months.

“Official waiting times for level two, level three and level four HCPs are still more than 12 months and in reality the wait is often longer than 18 months,” CEO Ian Yates said.

“This is totally unacceptable. No one should have to wait more than three months for the support which government has assessed them as needing.

“That includes time spent waiting for the assessment, which is not reported and should be in future.”

COTA Australia said about 43 older Australians died per day while waiting on their home care package.

A spokesperson for the Department of Health said the department was concerned to hear about the issues raised.

The spokesperson said the aged care system had mechanisms to ensure that people assessed with a high priority of need could get access to a home care package or other supports quickly.