Aged care at home now ‘fairer’
The federal government’s introduction of nationally consistent fees for home support services for older Australians will “right a wrong” that currently sees older people pay markedly different rates for the same service, seniors lobby group, COTA, says.
The federal government’s introduction of nationally consistent fees for home support services for older Australians will “right a wrong” that currently sees older people pay markedly different rates for the same service, seniors lobby group, COTA, says.
Ian Yates, COTA chief executive, says it is essential the protections in place for those who can’t afford to pay for their own care are monitored to make sure they work.
COTA has argued for the introduction of an “equitable” fees system which allows people to pay for services they receive based on a means tested sliding scale, Mr Yates says.
“This system ensures those who can’t afford to pay are still provided the services they need without cost, while making sure those who can afford it are paying the same amount for the same service, no matter where they receive that service,” he adds.
At present, an older person in Western Australia might pay 15% of the cost of a service to help them in their home, while and older person with a higher income in parts of Queensland could receive the same service for nothing.
“This is simply not fair and it is good to see the government has no moved to correct this,” Mr Yates says.
He also claims it’s important the government ask the Aged Care Financing Authority (ACFA) to formally monitor access to the Home Support Program so the impact of the new fees can be properly assessed as they are rolled out. The ACFA is already doing this for Home Care Packages.
