Respect, Dignity and Comfort: Investing in Aged Care Support at Home
When Labor came into Government our aged care system faced a crisis of neglect. Reforming the sector was our urgent priority, so older Australians could receive the quality of care and dignity they deserved.
In a short space of time we lifted wages in the sector, put nurses back into aged care homes, increased the amount of care minutes residents received, increased transparency and accountability, and made it easier for people to skill up to work in aged care by offering fee-free TAFE qualifications.
The next step is to secure a long term and sustainable future for our aged care system.
When I speak with older people about the support they need, most of them will tell me: I just want to stay in my own home. But they recognise they simply can not do it alone.
The Albanese Labor Government has listened to those wishes, and we’re investing $4.3 billion in a new system of home care that will help Australians remain independent, in their home and their community for longer.
Starting from 1 July 2025, Support at Home will allow quicker access to support from the time you’re assessed, and provide more tailored support, with 8 levels of care.
There will also be support for home modifications, faster access to assistive technology, like walkers and wheelchairs, and additional help for participants to get back on their feet after illness or injury so they can get out of hospital, and back home safely.
And there’s one other new support – palliative care. We’re providing Support at Home participants up to $25,000 in additional support to help them spend their final 3 months at home so they can cherish that time with their family.
For people already on a MyAgedCare package there won’t be any additional costs, and for new entrants, the government will pay 100 percent of clinical care services, with individuals making some contributions to the help they receive around independence and everyday living (e.g. help with getting dressed, cleaning, gardening, shopping or meal preparation).
How much someone contributes will be based on the Age Pension means test and highly dependent on their personal circumstances, from the level of support they are assessed to need, to their combination of income and assets, with a lifetime cap on contributions of $130,000.
These reforms continue to implement the recommendations of the Royal Commission into aged care. The changes will mean Australians have respect and dignity as they age and be supported to stay in their own home for much longer.