Catalyst Research has released a new study into what really matters for Baby Boomers when it comes to retirement and ageing – and unsurprisingly, it finds that most Boomers want to stay at home as long as possible.
Receiving home care and remaining connected to existing communities was the top priority for 71 per cent of respondents. They want to remain in environments they know, and maintain the relationships they already have, rather than transition into residential care, according to Catalyst Research.
Money management is another key area of concern flagged by the study: 78 per cent of Boomers polled cited managing their spending as the main benefit of self-managed care.
When it comes to what worries them about home care, 60 per cent of respondents said that changing and inconsistent cares was their main reason to change providers, and 50 per cent were concerned with cost and quality of care.
Finding the right home care options, and wait times, were also areas of concern for 40 per cent of those polled.
One figure in particular stands out: despite home care providers currently holding over $1.5 billion in Home Care Package funding, only 89 per cent of respondents are unaware they may have unspent funds. This corresponds with an RSL LifeCare survey from last year, which found that nearly two-thirds of Baby Boomers were completely unaware of the costs of homecare.
Peter Scutt, CEO at home care provider Mable, said the current system can be “confusing”.
“It is costly and inefficient, and despite its claim of being a consumer-directed care approach, it can fail to acknowledge that even as we age, we can still have a choice and control over our own needs,” Peter said.
The Federal Government’s new Support at Home program is coming next year, which is supposed to streamline home care – let’s hope it does as advertised, so that we can have an easier time if we choose to stay in our own homes for longer.
