South Australians overly represented on waiting lists aimed at keeping them living in their own homes longer

THOUSANDS of South Aussies are waiting for Home Care packages to keep them in their homes and out of aged care facilities.

A PROGRAM aimed at keeping older Australians living in their homes for longer has thousands of South Aussies on its waiting list.

The Home Care Packages program is a Federal government-subsidised program that provides long-term support for older people who want to stay living at home.

South Australia has 5515 people on the waiting list — representing more than 10 per cent of the nation’s waiting list despite only having 8.3 per cent of Australia’s 65 and older residents.

Council of the Ageing SA chief executive, Jane Mussared told the Sunday Mail although new funding for additional packages was in May’s Federal Budget, it was nowhere near enough to meet the unmet need across Australia.

“There is a critical shortage particularly for people waiting for higher level home care,” Ms Mussared said.

“There are still over 100,000 Australians waiting to be allocated a package at the level they need.

“For people requiring a Level 3 or 4 package, the wait is more than 12 months.”

South Australia has 1,885 residents on the waiting list for level four support — for clients with high-level care needs.

Less than 20 South Australians were waiting for level one support that is classed as basic care.

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Federal opposition spokeswoman for the ageing Julie Collins said older South Australians with high care needs are waiting more than a year for the level of care they require.

“Sadly this means more older South Australians are being forced into residential aged care and into emergency departments instead of getting the home care they need,” Ms Collins said.

An estimated 300 older Australians have waited more than two years for the home care package they were waiting for, and a further 636 have waiting for more than a year.

A spokeswoman Federal Department of Health told the Sunday Mail the number of people in South Australia in a home care package grew by 533 or 10.0 per cent between December 31, 2016 (5,352) and December 31, 2017 (5,885).

“The Government acknowledges that there is continued strong demand for home care packages.,” she said.

“This reflects the desire of senior Australians to remain living in their homes for as long as possible.

“In the 2018-19 Budget, the Government announced an additional $1.6 billion investment to allow for the release of an additional 14,000 high level home care packages over the next four years to help ease package wait times.

“This will enable more senior Australians with high care needs to receive the support they require sooner and remain living at home for longer.

The spokeswoman said people on the waiting list are able to access interim services.

Ms Mussared said home care packages are increasingly popular as people choose to remain at home with help coming to them.

She said by 2021, about 40 per cent of aged care will be provided to people at home — a significant increase from the 1 per cent provided at home 25 years ago.

Adelaide’s southern and northern suburbs had the highest percentage of residents on the waiting list.