Aged care
This campaign aims to build a better aged care system with an emphasis on improving access to home care.
The issue
Ongoing staffing, quality, compliance and financial transparency issues undermine confidence in the care sector.
What we're calling for
We are calling for a reduction in the home care wait list to ensure older people get quicker access to support at home.
The benefits
A safer and adequately resourced aged care sector will ensure older Australians have confidence in the care system.
Extra home care packages
In 2020 alone, there were an additional 29,105 Home Care Packages released at a cost of almost $2 billion. In total, there has been an extra 73,105 Home Care Packages released at a cost of $4.6 billion since the 2018-19 Budget thanks to our pressure on the federal government. We will continue to call for more high-level packages to meet the high demand; and for government to act quickly on the recommendations of the aged care royal commission.
National elder abuse plan
In 2016, we made a range of recommendations for action on elder abuse. A new national plan to tackle elder abuse was released in 2019. We continue to promote reforms to improve protections for older people including a national register for Enduring Powers of Attorney.
Keeping people at home
We are calling for an exemption from the aged care assets test for home care recipients when downsizing to more age-appropriate housing.
Let Pensioners Work
We are calling for an exemption of work income from the Age Pension income test to give a greater incentive for people to continue working in the aged care sector.
More home care places now
National Seniors Australia is calling for an immediate increase in the number of home care packages available to bring wait times down to a maximum of three months.
Seniors Dental Benefit Scheme
We are advocating for pensioners, including those recieving aged care services, to recieve $500 per year towards the cost of essential dental care in line with the recommendation made by the Aged Care Royal Commission.
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Current submissions
Through our access to policy-makers and the support of our members, we're able to make a difference. Check out our current submissions.
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National Seniors is the leading not-for-profit organisation fighting for a fair go for older Australians.
We rely on people like you to donate so we can continue to tackle issues such as age discrimination, accessible housing, pension poverty, health costs, aged care, improve retirement income and provide more home care places so that older Australians can live safely and make ends meet.
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