We are delighted with Federal Government news that an extra 10,000 Australians will receive support to stay in their homes.
The news is on top of the $1.6 million announced in the October Budget deliver another 26,000 home care packages as we outlined in an earlier blog.
We also welcome Prime Minister Scott Morrison statement as reported on ABC News that he will continue to prioritise funding for home care packages.
"We will continue to address the many challenges there are in aged care, not only by boosting funding but also providing better access to health services to improve physical and mental wellbeing for older Australians,"
"We have provided 10,000 additional home care packages at MYEFO every year for the past three years.
"This commitment continues."
Five Good Friends has been talking to Government, the Royal Commission into Ageing and the sector about the changes that need to happen.
In our submission to the Royal Commission into Ageing in July this year, Simon Lockyer, Five Good Friends CEO
We have been deeply troubled by the well-publicized deficiencies with the residential and home care sector that have been exposed.
Five Good Friends has a deep desire to be an agent for change – we believe in quality; we believe in outcomes-based care and we believe that it can be achieved across the board in Australia.
About 152,000 people are currently receiving in-home care but the latest official data shows more than 102,000 are currently waiting for a package they have already been approved for.
Since that Royal Commission’s Interim report was released late last year, the Government has spent more than $3.3 billion releasing an extra 50,000 home care packages, but there is concern within the sector that it has barely put a dent in the waitlist.
When we started Five Good Friends, we could see the challenges the home care sector was facing. We wanted to design a completely different offer. On that people would love. One that had truly had the customer and their family at the centre.
At Five Good Friends we have long understood the importance of growing old well at home. Since the beginning our question has always been why do people live wonderfully long, engaged and rich lives in the homes and communities they love?
It is because of the power of friendship, community and connection. Our mission is to help people live vibrant lives in their own homes, connected to the friends, family and communities they love.
We look forward to continuing to be a voice, calling for more home care packages so that more Australians can grow old well.
