WA Govt spends big to keep aged care residents out of hospitals
The State Government has pledged an additional $140 million in a bid to prevent a repeat of Western Australia’s worst-ever flu season last year.
In its 16-page Winter Strategy 2026 document, the Cook Government has committed to the following aged care measures:
- investing an additional $24.2 million to increase the number of Time to Think beds for older people leaving hospital while deciding their next steps;
- investing $20.3 million in a pilot Transition Care Program at Home, involving 24/7 monitoring for older people returning home after a hospital stay, including virtual daily check-ins;
- investing $1.1 million to introduce dedicated Hospital in the Home coordinators for residential aged care, making it easier for older people to receive hospital-level care where they reside;
- expanding specialist care for older people in their own home; and
- free respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccinations for the estimated 15,000 people living in residential aged care.
The WA Government also recently committed to a $100 million Low Interest Loan Scheme to support providers to build beds for older people with lower means, a measure bettered in an election promise in South Australia for a $250 million no-interest loan program for new aged care beds.
Peak body reacts to WA Govt’s announcement
Ageing Australia CEO Tom Symondson welcomed the announcement, noting it’s acknowledgement that caring for older Australians is “not just a responsibility for the Federal Government”.
The WA Government is setting an example for other States and Territories to follow, he added.
Shortage is nation-wide
Aged care bed shortages are not restricted to WA. Within 10 years, there will be more than one million people Australia-wide aged 85 and over compared with 600,000 today.
The Federal Government has forecasted the country will need 10,000 aged care beds annually to meet demand, yet only 800 beds were added to the system last financial year.
“All Governments must work with aged care providers to address the demand,” Tom said.
The WA Government’s strategy is outlined in full here.
