22-05-2025
Minster downplays costing concerns, spruiks benefits of home care changes
Health and Ageing Minister Mark Butler has insisted the new Aged Care Act will be fairer for everyone amid concerns over rising home care costs and the sector's ability to adapt to the changes by the specified deadline.
The new act is set to come into effect on July 1. Mr Butler said it will offer a number of benefits for home care recipients, including lowering wait times for new applicants, increasing the number of support homes available, and offering additional funding for home modifications.
Read more from The Senior
But some providers have expressed concerns about changes to the costing for home care services under the new model as well as lack of vital information from the government leading up to the start date.
Under the current system, recipients make contributions to their government-subsidised care, with the amount they have to contribute determined by income and the level of their home care package.
Under the new Support at Home program, which will come into effect with the new Aged Care Act, recipients will only contribute towards the services they require, but providers say many will end up paying more.
Under the new model, all clinical care costs will be covered by the government, but recipients will be expected to contribute to costs for other care services, including showering, other forms of personal care, gardening and cleaning.
In early May, seven home care providers issued a joint statement expressing concerns that the changes could lead to some recipients on a full pension paying up to $131 per week for home care services, amounting to more than 20 per cent of their income.
Mr Butler insisted the changes were the best way forward for the future of home care and downplayed suggestions the most vulnerable would be hit with unmanageable costs.
"The Australian Government will continue to fund the majority of aged care services, and 100 per cent of clinical care services, but those that can afford to will be asked to contribute more to the cost of their care," he said.
The Senior understands that under the new system, recipients on a full age pension will be asked to pay five per cent of the costs for independent living services, including showering and personal care and 17 per cent for everyday living services like shopping, cleaning and garden maintenance.
Those who were receiving home care, on the waiting list, or had their applications approved on or before September 12 will not have to pay more under a "no worse off" principle.
Mr Butler said Support At Home will bring down average wait times and increase the number of available support places to "a record" 300,000.
Home care recipients will also be able to apply for up to $15,000 in funding for products, equipment, or home modifications that will help them stay at home for longer through the Assistive Technology and Home Modifications Scheme, he said.
"The Aged Care Act marks a new era for aged care where everyone can have faith and trust in a system that will look after them and give them the services they need, when they need them."
In early May, Ageing Australia's Tom Symondson said providers had not been given enough time to prepare for changes outlined in the act by July 1.
While Mr Butler did not address this concern directly, The Senior understands that as of May 22 a number of resources had been made available.
These include dedicated websites to help providers prepare, a priority action list outlining changes that have to be made by July 1, grants programs for providers, and other transition support tools.
The Australian Dental Association (ADA) and COTA have also called for a benefit scheme to lower the cost of dental care for older Australians.
Mr Butler said the government does not have plans to address the dental affordability issue in the short term, as it is currently focused on "strengthening Medicare and rebuilding general practice."
Share your thoughts in the comments below, or send a Letter to the Editor by CLICKING HERE.
Health and Ageing Minister Mark Butler has insisted the new Aged Care Act will be fairer for everyone amid concerns over rising home care costs and the sector's ability to adapt to the changes by the specified deadline.
The new act is set to come into effect on July 1. Mr Butler said it will offer a number of benefits for home care recipients, including lowering wait times for new applicants, increasing the number of support homes available, and offering additional funding for home modifications.
Read more from The Senior
But some providers have expressed concerns about changes to the costing for home care services under the new model as well as lack of vital information from the government leading up to the start date.
Under the current system, recipients make contributions to their government-subsidised care, with the amount they have to contribute determined by income and the level of their home care package.
Under the new Support at Home program, which will come into effect with the new Aged Care Act, recipients will only contribute towards the services they require, but providers say many will end up paying more.
Under the new model, all clinical care costs will be covered by the government, but recipients will be expected to contribute to costs for other care services, including showering, other forms of personal care, gardening and cleaning.
In early May, seven home care providers issued a joint statement expressing concerns that the changes could lead to some recipients on a full pension paying up to $131 per week for home care services, amounting to more than 20 per cent of their income.
Mr Butler insisted the changes were the best way forward for the future of home care and downplayed suggestions the most vulnerable would be hit with unmanageable costs.
"The Australian Government will continue to fund the majority of aged care services, and 100 per cent of clinical care services, but those that can afford to will be asked to contribute more to the cost of their care," he said.
The Senior understands that under the new system, recipients on a full age pension will be asked to pay five per cent of the costs for independent living services, including showering and personal care and 17 per cent for everyday living services like shopping, cleaning and garden maintenance.
Those who were receiving home care, on the waiting list, or had their applications approved on or before September 12 will not have to pay more under a "no worse off" principle.
Mr Butler said Support At Home will bring down average wait times and increase the number of available support places to "a record" 300,000.
Home care recipients will also be able to apply for up to $15,000 in funding for products, equipment, or home modifications that will help them stay at home for longer through the Assistive Technology and Home Modifications Scheme, he said.
"The Aged Care Act marks a new era for aged care where everyone can have faith and trust in a system that will look after them and give them the services they need, when they need them."
In early May, Ageing Australia's Tom Symondson said providers had not been given enough time to prepare for changes outlined in the act by July 1.
While Mr Butler did not address this concern directly, The Senior understands that as of May 22 a number of resources had been made available.
These include dedicated websites to help providers prepare, a priority action list outlining changes that have to be made by July 1, grants programs for providers, and other transition support tools.
The Australian Dental Association (ADA) and COTA have also called for a benefit scheme to lower the cost of dental care for older Australians.
Mr Butler said the government does not have plans to address the dental affordability issue in the short term, as it is currently focused on "strengthening Medicare and rebuilding general practice."
Share your thoughts in the comments below, or send a Letter to the Editor by CLICKING HERE.
Health and Ageing Minister Mark Butler has insisted the new Aged Care Act will be fairer for everyone amid concerns over rising home care costs and the sector's ability to adapt to the changes by the specified deadline.
The new act is set to come into effect on July 1. Mr Butler said it will offer a number of benefits for home care recipients, including lowering wait times for new applicants, increasing the number of support homes available, and offering additional funding for home modifications.
Read more from The Senior
But some providers have expressed concerns about changes to the costing for home care services under the new model as well as lack of vital information from the government leading up to the start date.
Under the current system, recipients make contributions to their government-subsidised care, with the amount they have to contribute determined by income and the level of their home care package.
Under the new Support at Home program, which will come into effect with the new Aged Care Act, recipients will only contribute towards the services they require, but providers say many will end up paying more.
Under the new model, all clinical care costs will be covered by the government, but recipients will be expected to contribute to costs for other care services, including showering, other forms of personal care, gardening and cleaning.
In early May, seven home care providers issued a joint statement expressing concerns that the changes could lead to some recipients on a full pension paying up to $131 per week for home care services, amounting to more than 20 per cent of their income.
Mr Butler insisted the changes were the best way forward for the future of home care and downplayed suggestions the most vulnerable would be hit with unmanageable costs.
"The Australian Government will continue to fund the majority of aged care services, and 100 per cent of clinical care services, but those that can afford to will be asked to contribute more to the cost of their care," he said.
The Senior understands that under the new system, recipients on a full age pension will be asked to pay five per cent of the costs for independent living services, including showering and personal care and 17 per cent for everyday living services like shopping, cleaning and garden maintenance.
Those who were receiving home care, on the waiting list, or had their applications approved on or before September 12 will not have to pay more under a "no worse off" principle.
Mr Butler said Support At Home will bring down average wait times and increase the number of available support places to "a record" 300,000.
Home care recipients will also be able to apply for up to $15,000 in funding for products, equipment, or home modifications that will help them stay at home for longer through the Assistive Technology and Home Modifications Scheme, he said.
"The Aged Care Act marks a new era for aged care where everyone can have faith and trust in a system that will look after them and give them the services they need, when they need them."
In early May, Ageing Australia's Tom Symondson said providers had not been given enough time to prepare for changes outlined in the act by July 1.
While Mr Butler did not address this concern directly, The Senior understands that as of May 22 a number of resources had been made available.
These include dedicated websites to help providers prepare, a priority action list outlining changes that have to be made by July 1, grants programs for providers, and other transition support tools.
The Australian Dental Association (ADA) and COTA have also called for a benefit scheme to lower the cost of dental care for older Australians.
Mr Butler said the government does not have plans to address the dental affordability issue in the short term, as it is currently focused on "strengthening Medicare and rebuilding general practice."
Share your thoughts in the comments below, or send a Letter to the Editor by CLICKING HERE.
Health and Ageing Minister Mark Butler has insisted the new Aged Care Act will be fairer for everyone amid concerns over rising home care costs and the sector's ability to adapt to the changes by the specified deadline.
The new act is set to come into effect on July 1. Mr Butler said it will offer a number of benefits for home care recipients, including lowering wait times for new applicants, increasing the number of support homes available, and offering additional funding for home modifications.
Read more from The Senior
But some providers have expressed concerns about changes to the costing for home care services under the new model as well as lack of vital information from the government leading up to the start date.
Under the current system, recipients make contributions to their government-subsidised care, with the amount they have to contribute determined by income and the level of their home care package.
Under the new Support at Home program, which will come into effect with the new Aged Care Act, recipients will only contribute towards the services they require, but providers say many will end up paying more.
Under the new model, all clinical care costs will be covered by the government, but recipients will be expected to contribute to costs for other care services, including showering, other forms of personal care, gardening and cleaning.
In early May, seven home care providers issued a joint statement expressing concerns that the changes could lead to some recipients on a full pension paying up to $131 per week for home care services, amounting to more than 20 per cent of their income.
Mr Butler insisted the changes were the best way forward for the future of home care and downplayed suggestions the most vulnerable would be hit with unmanageable costs.
"The Australian Government will continue to fund the majority of aged care services, and 100 per cent of clinical care services, but those that can afford to will be asked to contribute more to the cost of their care," he said.
The Senior understands that under the new system, recipients on a full age pension will be asked to pay five per cent of the costs for independent living services, including showering and personal care and 17 per cent for everyday living services like shopping, cleaning and garden maintenance.
Those who were receiving home care, on the waiting list, or had their applications approved on or before September 12 will not have to pay more under a "no worse off" principle.
Mr Butler said Support At Home will bring down average wait times and increase the number of available support places to "a record" 300,000.
Home care recipients will also be able to apply for up to $15,000 in funding for products, equipment, or home modifications that will help them stay at home for longer through the Assistive Technology and Home Modifications Scheme, he said.
"The Aged Care Act marks a new era for aged care where everyone can have faith and trust in a system that will look after them and give them the services they need, when they need them."
In early May, Ageing Australia's Tom Symondson said providers had not been given enough time to prepare for changes outlined in the act by July 1.
While Mr Butler did not address this concern directly, The Senior understands that as of May 22 a number of resources had been made available.
These include dedicated websites to help providers prepare, a priority action list outlining changes that have to be made by July 1, grants programs for providers, and other transition support tools.
The Australian Dental Association (ADA) and COTA have also called for a benefit scheme to lower the cost of dental care for older Australians.
Mr Butler said the government does not have plans to address the dental affordability issue in the short term, as it is currently focused on "strengthening Medicare and rebuilding general practice."
Share your thoughts in the comments below, or send a Letter to the Editor by CLICKING HERE.
