Regional aged care telehealth program to shut its doors
Award-winning virtual care platform to close
- Platform closure: iAgeHealth ceases operations on 30 June
- Regional support: Virtual care served remote aged care homes
- McLean exit: Closure follows provider's aged care sale
- Future outlook: Virtual care remains key sector solution
An award-winning telehealth service that supported rural and remote aged care homes is set to close amid the pending sale of regional provider McLean Care.
Sources have confirmed that iAgeHealth, which delivered around-the-clock clinical care and allied health support into a number of rural and remote aged care homes, will close on 30 June.
The platform was developed about five years ago by McLean Care, which is based in Inverell, 550km north of Sydney, in partnership with Deakin University to address persistent workforce shortages in regional and remote areas.
According to a submission made last year to the Inspector-General of Aged Care, the platform was supporting up to 1,000 older people across 10 residential aged care homes in NSW, QLD and NT.
However, in February 2026, McLean Care unexpectedly announced it would exit the sector, seeking a buyer for its six aged care homes. A buyer has yet to be announced.
McLean Care is moving its allied health services, previously delivered by iAgeHealth, to external provider Plena Healthcare, which is owned by ASX-listed mutual Australian Unity.
McLean Care CEO Jill Davidson told The New England Times that virtual care was a product of skills shortages in regional, rural and remote areas, and had its shortcomings.
Face-to-face allied health services allow for more “meaningful interaction, improved rapport and better understanding of each resident,” she said.
As part of its exit from the sector, McLean Care revealed in April that the Federal Government had appointed Australian Unity to take on its Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) services from 1 June 2026.
Award-winning technology
iAgeHealth had been highly lauded for its technological innovations, receiving several awards in 2024.
The platform employed a multidisciplinary team of over 20 clinicians, including nurse practitioners, Registered Nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech pathologists, and dietitians. The service delivered specialisations including wound care, diabetes management and dementia care.
The Weekly SOURCE understands that the staff have been made redundant.
Virtual care continues
Despite the closure of iAgeHealth, virtual care remains a necessity for delivering nursing, allied health and specialist services into aged care homes, particularly those in rural and remote regions.
The Federal Government is currently running a three-year trial of virtual care in 30 aged care homes, run by Medibank-owned Amplar Health. The trial is due to be completed in June 2027.
Amplar Health has already treated more than 26,000 South Australian patients under its My Home Hospital program using virtual care.
Watch this space for updates on the McLean Care sale.
