Federal Government in $500m funding boost to allow more older South Australians to be cared for at home

Almost a thousand high-level aged-care packages will be allocated in South Australia within weeks after the Federal Government committed more than half a billion dollars to home-care funding.

Almost a thousand high-level aged-care packages will be allocated in South Australia within weeks after the Federal Government committed more than half a billion dollars to home care funding.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison will today announce the $552.9 million package, which will address wait times for home-care packages, cut fees, and provide more funds for regional service providers.

“We know many older Australians want to stay in their own home and this package delivers just that – support and high-level care at home,” Mr Morrison said.

At least 950 level three and four care packages will be made available to South Australians to receive subsidies of up to $50,250 a year for at home services.

These include clinical, nursing and mobility care, nutrition, hydration and meal preparation and transport support and will be made available from early next year.

The $27.3 million investment in SA follows an extra 20,000 home care places already announced across Australia this year.

Mr Morrison said the Government will also ease the cost of living for 5206 older South Australians by reducing the daily maximum fees payable by up to $400 a year for level one packages, $200 a year for level two packages and $100 a year for level three packages.

“Older Australians have built our country and they deserve our respect and support for the choices they want to make,” he said.

A further $13.2 million will be given to residential aged care providers across regional SA with the viability supplement – to offset higher health care costs in remote areas – increased by 30 per cent.

Across Australia, the Federal Government will allocate $98 million to fund increased payments to GPs to attend residential aged care homes to treat patients.

The government’s announcement comes after mounting pressure from Labor and peak ageing bodies.

Leading Age Services Australia last month revealed data it says showed that “too many older Australians are not getting care at the level they require”.

More than 126,000 people across Australia were waiting on the national queue for allocation of a home care package at their approved level at the end of September.

Originally published as Federal Government in $500m funding boost to allow more older South Australians to be cared for at home