BUDGET ANNOUNCEMENT: Homecare sector gets a massive boost
“Aged-care sector gets $1.6 billion to assist older Australians with services in their own homes”
The budget provides $1.6 billion over four years for 14,000 people to stay in their homes rather than nursing homes.
"Just because you're getting older does not mean you should surrender your dignity or your choices," Treasurer Scott Morrison said.
The funding boost means close to 74,000 people will be able to access home care packages by mid-2022.
The sector has been arguing for up to 25,000 extra places to deal with the backlog of people either waiting or using packages that do not have the full range of services they need.
A Government loans scheme to allow older people to borrow against some of the equity in their home will be extended.
That is an indication that older people will be expected to be prepared to cover some of the costs of living longer themselves, as well as relying on Government funding packages.
