Independent MP Dr Monique Ryan says Support at Home 'unfit for purpose'

The Deputy Chair of the Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Disability voiced the concerns of her electorate in Kooyong, Victoria, in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (10 March).

The Government's Integrated Assessment Tool (IAT) is "systemically underestimating" older Australians' needs, she told parliament, referring to her previous comments in the House about "robo aged care".

"I'm hearing stories of people seeking reassessment, only to be told that they're no longer eligible for aged care," she said.

"And I'm hearing from clinicians who have left the sector in distress over their inability to adequately support the aged."

Rising costs

"Frail" older Australians are being "crushed" by the cost of basic services under the new Aged Care Act, the Independent MP said.

As a result, consumers are receiving "reduced hours of support", a fact "completely at odds" with the government's "promised no-worse-off principle".

Urgent review required

"It's now four months since these reforms took effect. The system is unfit for purpose," she continued.

"This government promised a new era for aged care. Instead it has delivered an unfolding crisis."

Ryan called on the Government to "review, assess and iteratively improve" Support at Home "as a matter of urgency".

Referring to data showing 4,812 older Australians died last year waiting for home care, she told the House of Representatives: "They die without the care and the support that they deserve."

There are currently more than 100,000 older Australians waiting for aged care assessments and more than 130,000 people waiting for their Support at Home funding to come through.

The average wait times to receive Support at Home is nine months, with many receiving only 60% of funding.