Ageing Australia is descending on Canberra this week, calling for urgent action on aged care funding, growing waitlists and a critical shortage of residential aged care beds directly to politicians from across the political spectrum.
The national peak body for aged care providers, together with over 50 of its members from across Australia, is meeting with Government Ministers, Shadow Ministers and parliamentarians from across the political divide, as part of a coordinated push to secure immediate action as well as longer-term investment in aged care.
The week includes Wednesday’s Parliamentary Friends of Seniors and Ageing event, bringing together politicians, aged care providers, and other stakeholders to discuss the challenges facing the sector and what needs to change to ensure older Australians can age with dignity supported by access to the care they need.
Ageing Australia CEO Tom Symondson said urgent action was needed to address the growing pressures on aged care.
“Older Australians are waiting far too long for the care promised to them, our hospitals are increasingly filled with older people with nowhere else to go, and providers are struggling to keep existing services running, let alone build the new capacity we desperately need.
“We don’t care what side of politics you’re on, and neither do the older Australians waiting for services. Everyone has a role in fixing this crisis. That’s why we’re taking our message to every corner of Parliament because making sure older Australians get the care they need should be everyone’s business.”
More than 200,000 older Australians are waiting for assessment or Support at Home funding, while more than 3,700 remain stuck in hospitals despite being ready for discharge because suitable aged care is unavailable. Meanwhile, following the Government’s recent decision to increase AN-ACC funding by just 2.55 per cent, below inflation and wage increases, we now have more than 3,600 planned residential aged care beds shelved or put at risk.
“Reversing the laughably inadequate AN-ACC funding increase could not be more critical. And given the Government’s $1.4b underspend in last year’s aged care budget, there is literally no excuse. That would pay for doubling the 2.55 per cent increase we received to the 5 per cent we need, with enough left over to fund more than 30,000 new Support at Home packages. This is simply a question of political will – not ability.
“As well as an immediate increase of at least 5 per cent to AN-ACC, we’re calling for a 3.5 per cent increase to the hotelling supplement and for the planned $5 accommodation supplement increase to be brought forward. These measures will give providers some breathing room, but they’re not the long-term solution.”
Ageing Australia is also calling for a national aged care investment plan to support the development of around 10,000 additional residential aged care beds each year, alongside urgent action to reduce Support at Home waitlists and end the rationing of approved care.
“We need a long-term plan that gives providers the confidence to invest and expand, but we also need decisions now that stop things getting worse.
“Older Australians shouldn’t have to wait for the next election or the next Budget to get the care they need. They are people – not bargaining chips. The Royal Commission made that clear and we’re looking for politicians from all sides to work with our sector to ensure no older person is left behind.”
Ageing Australia Media contact: Sharon Wilkinson 0488 220 788 or
