Home care given a major boost by government

The government has made another big commitment to ramping up home care services in Australia, with the announcement of $115 million in funding for the industry.

The funding is part of the government’s focus to keep you living in your home for longer and follows last month’s major changes to the way home care is delivered.

Minister for Aged Care Ken Wyatt said 245 organisations that deliver home care services would benefit from the funding.

“Helping older people to stay at home and in their communities for longer is another way the Government is providing choice in aged-care services so that the people who built this nation can live a dignified old age,” he said.

“It’s about providing quality services for older Australians in the right way, at the right time.”

But where will the money be spent? And how can you benefit as a home care recipient?

Well, Mr Wyatt announced the $115 million would go towards additional services for the 640,000 older Australians who need help with  household chores, preparing meals, personal care and home maintenance.

“It will provide extra transport services to take clients to appointments as well as social events in their local community,” he said.

“In addition, the funding will support vulnerable people, including the homeless, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, culturally and linguistically diverse people and those in rural Australia.

“It will provide much needed additional nursing services, respite care services, allied health and therapy services, such as physiotherapy and speech pathology, and assistance with care and housing that is responsive to local community needs.”

The funding has been welcomed by the aged care industry, which has been pushing for reforms and additional funding in recent times.

Aged and Community Services Australia says the additional funding will support even more older Australians to receive care in their home.

CEO Pat Sparrow said the next reform for home care services was the integration of the Home Care Packages Program and the Commonwealth Home Support Program into one home care program from July 2018.

 “Design of the integrated program, in consultation with the industry, needs to occur as a priority to give direction and certainty,” she said.

“Inconsistent elements that impact on the effectiveness of the home care approach, such as differing fees and assessment processes, need to be addressed as part of this. 

“Once we have a design an implementation plan and timeframe can be agreed that will ensure vital services continue to be delivered.”

Home care recipients are now able to choose their own provider, under major reforms introduced last year.

The government’s additional funding is likely to allow more providers to deliver home care services, delivering more home care placements and decreasing any waiting lists that companies might have.

What do you think about this? Are you pleased to see the government providing more funding for home care services?