ROOT
Retirement Living Council urges government to implement urgent home care reforms as waitlist doubles
ROOT
Retirement Living Council urges government to implement urgent home care reforms as waitlist doubles
The Retirement Living Council (RLC) is calling on the Australian Government to implement urgent home care reforms, following new data revealing that the number of Australians approved for a home care package but waiting to access funding has more than doubled over the past 12 months, now exceeding 68,000.
Retirement Living Council urges government to implement urgent home care reforms as waitlist doubles
The Retirement Living Council (RLC) is calling on the Australian Government to implement urgent home care reforms, following new data revealing that the number of Australians approved for a home care package but waiting to access funding has more than doubled over the past 12 months, now exceeding 68,000.
RLC Executive Director Daniel Gannon emphasized the strain on the care system will only increase, as the number of Australians over 75 is set to rise from 2 million to 3.4 million by 2040. "The aged care system is breaking under the weight of ever-increasing demand," Mr Gannon said.
Despite the government's recent Budget announcement that it would fund an extra 24,100 home care packages in FY25, the growing demand for services and reduction in home care providers has led to older Australians waiting up to a year to receive urgent support to continue living safely at home.
Mr Gannon stated that the admission by the Department of Health and Aged Care representatives means "68,000 older Australians have had their quality of life diminished, and they are not receiving the support they need to age in place with dignity."
He called for the policy approach to home care to reflect the willingness shown by the privately funded retirement living sector to help fight against the aged care crisis. The RLC's Shared Care framework, submitted to the Australian Government ahead of the Budget, finds that retirement villages could help make the delivery of home care almost 20 per cent more efficient, while saving the commonwealth $100 million annually.
"This framework could help ensure that older Australians receive more care per dollar invested, while saving the government money, so it is a win-win," Mr Gannon said. The 'shared care' approach would provide three models for retirement village operators to deliver community-based care services under the Support at Home program within the village setting, either independently or through a delivery partner.
These models, according to Mr Gannon, have been developed to show that significant efficiencies and savings to consumers and government can be achieved, even at moderate levels of uptake, with no cost to government. This is due to retirement villages providing scale for delivering these services efficiently and cost-effectively by reducing travel costs incurred by service providers, increasing the frequency of service delivery, and enhancing the quality and suite of services by leveraging those already in place at these communities.
RELATED ARTICLES
Retirement
New study reveals habits that boost retirement confidence
A recent study by AustralianSuper has found that less than half of Australians are confident about their retirement prospects, but simple daily habits can significantly improve this outlook. Read more
Retirement
AMP study reveals generational gap in financial communication and expectations
A new study by AMP has uncovered significant differences in how younger Australians and their parents approach intergenerational wealth matters. Read more
Retirement
Home care admissions surge 267% in a decade, prompting calls for aged care reform
The Retirement Living Council (RLC) is urging the Australian Government to prioritise aged care reforms following the release of new data showing a significant increase in home care admissions over ...Read more
Retirement
Retirees face dilemma in supporting children amid housing affordability crisis, AMP research finds
New research from AMP has revealed that four in five Australians aged 65 and over believe their children face similar or harder financial challenges than they did growing up, largely due to rising ...Read more
Retirement
Retirement Living Council criticises Budget for neglecting seniors' housing needs
The Retirement Living Council (RLC) has expressed disappointment with the Australian government's FY25 Budget, stating that it fails to address the housing needs of a large cohort of older Australians ...Read more
Retirement
Government urged to include retirement units in housing targets to address supply challenges
The Retirement Living Council (RLC), the national peak body for retirement and seniors' housing accommodation, is calling on the government to include retirement units in the Prime Minister's target ...Read more
Retirement
Retirement living linked to better health outcomes and reduced hospital visits, report finds
The Retirement Living Council (RLC) has welcomed the findings of the Australian Medical Association's (AMA) annual Public Hospital Report Card, which highlights the potential for age-friendly ...Read more
Retirement
La Trobe Financial unveils heartwarming new campaign celebrating a life of well-managed investments
Australia's premier alternative asset manager, La Trobe Financial, has launched a new marketing campaign titled "Grandpa's Gift" in collaboration with creative agency Bastion. The fully integrated ...Read more
Retirement
New study reveals habits that boost retirement confidence
A recent study by AustralianSuper has found that less than half of Australians are confident about their retirement prospects, but simple daily habits can significantly improve this outlook. Read more
Retirement
AMP study reveals generational gap in financial communication and expectations
A new study by AMP has uncovered significant differences in how younger Australians and their parents approach intergenerational wealth matters. Read more
Retirement
Home care admissions surge 267% in a decade, prompting calls for aged care reform
The Retirement Living Council (RLC) is urging the Australian Government to prioritise aged care reforms following the release of new data showing a significant increase in home care admissions over ...Read more
Retirement
Retirees face dilemma in supporting children amid housing affordability crisis, AMP research finds
New research from AMP has revealed that four in five Australians aged 65 and over believe their children face similar or harder financial challenges than they did growing up, largely due to rising ...Read more
Retirement
Retirement Living Council criticises Budget for neglecting seniors' housing needs
The Retirement Living Council (RLC) has expressed disappointment with the Australian government's FY25 Budget, stating that it fails to address the housing needs of a large cohort of older Australians ...Read more
Retirement
Government urged to include retirement units in housing targets to address supply challenges
The Retirement Living Council (RLC), the national peak body for retirement and seniors' housing accommodation, is calling on the government to include retirement units in the Prime Minister's target ...Read more
Retirement
Retirement living linked to better health outcomes and reduced hospital visits, report finds
The Retirement Living Council (RLC) has welcomed the findings of the Australian Medical Association's (AMA) annual Public Hospital Report Card, which highlights the potential for age-friendly ...Read more
Retirement
La Trobe Financial unveils heartwarming new campaign celebrating a life of well-managed investments
Australia's premier alternative asset manager, La Trobe Financial, has launched a new marketing campaign titled "Grandpa's Gift" in collaboration with creative agency Bastion. The fully integrated ...Read more
