Aged Care Reform
Aged care waitlist hits 250,000 as deaths climb
Aged Care Reform
Aged care waitlist hits 250,000 as deaths climb
Aged Care ReformAdvocacy & RightsPolicy & Legislation
Australian Ageing Agenda · 9 min read · 4 hours ago
Original source
Summarised by Stellar
Key points5 points
- Median wait for aged care is 10 months (297 days); 4,812 died waiting in 2024-25.
- Government's revised waitlist calculation hides 53,718 people, true total exceeds 153,909.
- Peak bodies demand urgent investment and human oversight of the IAT algorithm.
- Palliative Care Australia calls for specific palliative care assessment in the IAT.
- COTA Australia advocates for care within 30 days of assessment and legislative caps on interim packages.
Summary
Aged care peak bodies are demanding action after a Four Corners investigation revealed median wait times of 10 months and 4,812 deaths while awaiting approved funding. The government's changed waitlist calculation masks an additional 53,718 people, bringing the true total to over 153,909. Providers and advocates are calling for urgent investment, human oversight of the Integrated Assessment Tool (IAT), and better palliative care recognition. The sector warns the algorithm-based system is rationing care and failing to meet the needs of older Australians.