Elder concerns over new aged care rules
The Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO) has raised concerns about Federal Government plans to roll out the Support at Home program from November 1, merging the current Commonwealth Home Support Program and Home Care Packages system.
While the Government says this will simplify aged care, the reality is that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander old people and Elders will face new financial barriers to the essential care they rely on to live healthy and well, stay culturally safe and be independent at home, VACCHO has said.
Under the new rules:
- Elders will be forced to pay co-contributions for essential non-clinical services like meals, cleaning, transport, and personal care – costs that could reach up to $150 per week.
- The redress given to Stolen Generations will be part of the ‘income’ assessment undertaken to determine co-contribution levels.
- Aboriginal Elders could face up to an extra 15 years of fees and co-contributions for aged care services compared to the rest of the population- and without having access to superannuation.
“This is unacceptable. Our Elders deserve better. These reforms contradict the Government’s commitment to Closing the Gap in health and life expectancy,” a VACCHO statement said.
VACCHO has started a petition calling on the Australian Government to ensure all reforms uphold the Closing the Gap commitments to equity and self-determination AND accept and implement all the recommendations from the Transforming Aged Care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people report.
