MEDIA STATEMENT:
Aged Care personal care back from the brink
From 1 October, older Australians will no longer pay for support with showering, dressing and continence care services that are fundamental to dignity, health and everyday wellbeing.
The Federal Government’s decision to remove out-of-pocket costs for essential personal care under the Support at Home program is a welcome step, but it doesn’t address key concerns like long assessment wait times.
Advocare will be watching closely as further details emerge, especially how protections such as price caps will work in practice.
This reform announcement follows ongoing advocacy from older people and organisations like Advocare across the country who have been calling for fairer access to essential care.
Advocare CEO Erin Timu says, “Our parent body, the Older Persons Advocacy Network says calls to the national Aged Care Advocacy Line increased by 96.3%* during the last quarter since the November launch of the new Aged Care Act’s measures.”
“Older West Australians have shared with our advocates just how much these costs have affected their sense of dignity, and an older person’s dignity should be priceless.”
“We continue to hear from older people who are facing long wait times and uncertainty about costs, so while this personal care cost wind-back is encouraging, there’s more work to do.”
With further government announcements and the Federal Budget ahead, there is an important opportunity to build on this progress.
“All older people and their families accessing aged care services need to remember, your rights matter. If you are struggling or not happy with your current arrangements, speak out.”
Advocare strongly encourage older people, the community, advocates and decision-makers across Western Australia to stay engaged and continue to support the push for positive reform.
Older people’s dignity is priceless.
(*edited 24 April to qualify percentage & source)
