Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN)
Peak Body Backs Delay for New Aged Care Act
The Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) reluctantly supports today’s announcement of a four-month delay to the commencement of the new rights-based Aged Care Act. Overall, it is the right decision for older people.
“Until now, OPAN has been steadfast in its call for the Act to be implemented, as promised, on 1 July 2025, because older people can’t get the aged care they need without it,” OPAN CEO Craig Gear OAM said.
“However, over the past weeks, it has become increasingly apparent that, while the macro design of the reform is solid, older people don’t have the necessary information to make informed choices at an individual level, particularly around the new Support at Home program.
“We are also concerned that the appropriate systems aren’t yet in place to ensure continuity of care and services for older people during the transition.
“It is for these reasons, OPAN reluctantly supports the delay announced by the Minister for Health and Ageing and the Minister for Disability and the NDIS Mark Butler and the Minister for Aged Care and Seniors Sam Rae today,” Mr Gear said.
OPAN called for the release of a minimum 20,000 additional home care packages during the four-month delay to reduce the current 83,000 people waiting up to 11 months to receive the appropriate level of home care.
“Inadequate in-home care support pushes older people prematurely into residential aged care,” Mr Gear said.
OPAN and COTA last week wrote to government to jointly raise their concerns.
Mr Gear said the additional time must be used to fast-track the rights-based legislation, which will:
“This is not the time to take our foot off the pedal. Older people have been waiting years for an Act that enshrines their rights in legislation. This delay risks pushing out the timeline for them to receive more timely and rights focused aged care,” Mr Gear said
“We need to use this four-month window to urgently address outstanding issues, which include accessible hardship provisions for those with limited means, and roadblocks in the single assessment system which are exacerbating waiting times for in-home aged care.
“Older people must also be provided with the level of detail they need to make informed choices and give their informed consent.”