’Rescuing’ the elderly from care

NEW data shows in-home care is almost outstripping aged care with Aussies “rescuing” their loved ones amid an “acute workforce crisis”.

The total number of home care packages hit 236,554 last financial year, while the population of residential aged care remained stable at 243,117, according to the Report on Government Services 2022.

Aged and Community Services Australia CEO Paul Sadler said the aged care system is under pressure, with an “acute workforce crisis” in the sector.

A spokesman for Aged Care Services Minister Richard Colbeck said the coalition were releasing new home care packages at the rate of about 770 per week to “continue to reduce the waiting list” and at a rate that “supports a workforce that has grown by 15,000 since the start of November and continues to increase”. “Wait times for a high priority package is now less than one month and packages have increased from 60,000 under Labor to more than 275,000 under the Morrison government,” he said.

The spokesman said the Coalition had invested $11.9bn in home care packages since the 2018/19 budget.

“That number will climb to over 275,000 by July 2023 continuing to reduce waiting lists and waiting times. Additionally, the Morrison government has invested $338.5m in the 2021-22 Budget to grow, train and upskill the aged care workforce to drive improvements to the safety and quality of care experienced by senior Australians,” he said.

“Our comprehensive aged care reform agenda includes a wide range of measures to assist the care and support sector to recruit additional workers, from tailor-made employment programs and subsidised training to wage subsidies for apprentices and trainees.”

But Solace Sleep, who provide equipment for in-home care, saw a 3000 per cent rise in mechanical bed sales through My Aged Care funding between 2020 and 2021.

Solace Sleep owner and founder Darren Nelson said the pandemic highlighted “ever-present issues” in aged care with people now “rescuing” their loved ones.

Re: Port plan pledge (CP, 28/04). Entsch says $500-700m needed. Crikey, are they going to destroy our swamp land and wildlife and inlets to build a shipyard and docks all along Tingira and waterfront? This would be environmental devastation on a grand scale.

Pat, Woree

How odd. A couple of years ago there was a community organisation dedicated to improving the marine precinct and politicians didn’t want to know about it. But now there’s promises to be made they’re fighting with each other over it.

James, Edge Hill

So now we have Frydenberg a Liberal and Canavan a national with different policies on the control of greenhouse gas emissions into our atmosphere. Totally conflicting positions in a coalition would-be government.

Senior Citizen, Cairns

It’s ironic that Harvard should be offering reparations for slavery (CP, 28/04). There’s been a Harvard graduate at the centre of all the world’s worst mistakes. Will they offer reparations for those, too? Stanley, Westcourt

Inflation has soared to 5.1% from 3.5%. That’s effectively another 1.6% pay cut for everyone. It’s also another cut to everyone’s savings, because that money buys less. Nonetheless, both Morrison and Albanese have made campaign promises that will accelerate inflation. If we want to save Australia we’re going to have to break our habit of voting Liberal or Labor.

The Pay Clerk, Cairns

Lee Williams (CP, 28/04) cherry picks US firearm death statistics in an attempt to disprove history, which, ironically, is called the “Texas sharpshooter” logical fallacy. In fact, the US cities with the tightest gun laws have the highest gun crime rate — mostly committed by gang members. US states with the fewest gun laws have gun crime rates similar to Australia’s.

History Guy, Freshwater

Oh, good grief, the health system hasn’t only failed in Doomadgee, Minister, it’s failed everywhere. During 2020’s “two weeks to flatten the curve to ramp up hospitals” — you didn’t. Worse, since then you’ve sacked medical personnel over vaccine mandates. Only governments can stuff things up so badly.

Cynic, Cairns

What’s with the fat and mummy shaming from Nicole Tobin (CP, 28/04)? Mind your own business.

JB, Parramatta Park

There’s no point in any politician promising anything (CP, 28/04) if Australia is broke, in humongous debt, and under globalist control.

Juss Sayen, Cairns