A new report released this week has highlighted the need for older Australians and their families to prepare for the aged care journey well before they may require services.
The latest annual Report on Government Services by the Productivity Commission shows that waiting times for older Australians to enter an aged care home after their ACAT approval are now sitting at an average of 163 days – or over five months in 2020-21.
Only two in five older Australians (41.1 per cent) entered residential care within three months of their approval.
Compare this to 10 years ago when the average waiting time was just 40 days between approval and entry.
COVID-19 and home care impacting on demand for residential care
So, why the growing gap?
The COVID-19 pandemic has certainly played a role with more families reluctant to place Mum or Dad in care at a time when outbreaks may restrict visitors and contact with the outside world.
But the growing demand for receiving aged care services at home is also a factor.
According to the report, there are now over one million older Australians receiving support at home through the Federal Government’s Home Care Packages (HCP) program and the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP).
With the Government rolling out another 80,000 packages over the next two years, those numbers will continue to expand.
This has resulted in the residential care sector’s lowest occupancy rate in a decade – just 86.8 per cent as of 30 June 2021.
But choosing to receive care at home has its own pitfalls.
Wait times for home care still long
The report also shows that while wait times have fallen in recent years for home care, the median wait times for a basic Level 1 package is still sitting at six months – while those approved for a higher Level 3 package are waiting an average of 15 months.
What does this mean for those of us with ageing parents – or who are perhaps thinking about our own future care needs?
The findings underline the need to start thinking about aged care – and the services that could help you living well for longer – well before you need them.
The reality is many people do not consider the need for aged care until an accident or sudden illness – which places stress on both the older person and their family to access services.
A good reminder then to start the conversation with older family members – and make your own wishes known.
You can find out more about planning for the ageing journey on agedcare101.com.au.
