Policy & Legislation
Aged care waitlist understated by 54,000 under new counting method
Policy & Legislation
Aged care waitlist understated by 54,000 under new counting method
Policy & LegislationPricing & Funding
ABC News — Aged Care · 5 min read · 11 hours ago
Original source
Summarised by Stellar
Key points5 points
- The official waitlist understates the true number by over 53,000 people, as those on interim funding are excluded.
- The true waitlist of 153,909 is the longest since before the royal commission, indicating severe capacity constraints.
- Over 4,800 people died in 2024-25 while waiting for approved home care funding, highlighting urgent need.
- Providers should prepare for continued high demand and potential policy changes as scrutiny on reporting methods grows.
- The government has doubled package releases since November, but this has not kept pace with demand.
Summary
The government's new counting method excludes people receiving interim funding from the official waitlist, understating the true number waiting for full home care packages. As of March 31, the official figure was 100,191, but the actual number is 153,909. This masks a growing demand that has quadrupled since the royal commission, with over 4,800 deaths while waiting in 2024-25. Providers should anticipate sustained pressure on home care services and potential policy adjustments as the discrepancy gains attention.