2021 Census: Number of people aged over 65 needing care jumps to 950,000

Startling new figures have exposed the harsh and unexpected reality for a growing number of Australians.

The number of older people needing help with their day-to-day care has jumped to just under a million, and comes as the aged care industry is in the midst of a severe staffing crisis.

The latest figures from the 2021 Census reveal the number of people aged over 65 has grown by 700,000 since 2016 to about 4.4 million.

From that group, the number needing assistance with self-care, mobility and communication has increased from 650,000 people to around 950,000.

Advocates for the elderly said they are hearing terrible stories of people unable to get the care they need at home and instead are being fast tracked into residential aged care.

Aged and Disability Advocacy Australia spokesman Geoff Rowe said despite the previous government investing in an additional 100,000 Home Care Packages it wasn’t enough.

Almost a million people aged over 65 need assistance with the day-to-day living according to the 2021 Census.

“What happens when people can’t access the support they need at home is that they inappropriately find themselves in hospital or are forced into aged care homes prematurely,” he said.

“That’s bad news for them and the taxpayer, as it costs at least twice as much to support a person in aged care homes, than in their own homes.

“It’s a lose, lose situation.”

Aged & Community Care Providers Association (ACCPA) interim CEO Paul Sadler said the increasing demand and the staff shortages were a “toxic mix”.

“Older people are missing out on the care they deserve,” Mr Sadler said.

He said he had also heard of some aged care homes declining new residents despite having availability, because they don’t have the staff.

A report from the Committee for Economic Development Australia (CEDA) out this week found 65,000 workers are leaving the sector each year.

Aged & Community Care Providers Association (ACCPA) interim CEO Paul Sadler.

It also estimates the industry is short of up to 35,000 care workers, twice the number it predicted in its last report in August last year.

Mr Sadler said aged care workers needed better pay, more international migration was needed to help fill roles, and funding for aged care facilities needed to be remodelled.

Lynda Saltarelli from Aged Care Crisis, an advocacy group for the elderly, said successive governments had failed to support staff by nobbling their rights and deregulating the system.

“The governments of the day on both sides have chosen to support industry and profits over staff and care,” she said.

Minister for Aged Care Anika Wells. Picture: Steve Pohlner

“We are hearing about staff having to walk away and close the door on residents who are dying because they are needed elsewhere.

“Some of the stories are heartbreaking.”

Minister for Aged Care Anika Wells said Labor was moving quickly to address the last government’s inaction in aged care and in particular the workforce shortage.

“This includes a commitment to better pay for workers, nurses in residential facilities 24/7 and the full 215 care minutes the Royal Commission recommended,” Ms Wells said.

The 2021 Census found the proportion of older people needing assistance increases from 10 per cent for people aged 65 to 74, to 23 per cent for people aged 75 to 84, and then to 55 per cent for people 85 plus.