Federal Member for Cowper Pat Conaghan is calling on the Labor Government to listen to the real issues facing older Australians when it comes to Aged Care Packages and support.

“To date, we’ve seen a few press releases touting new processes or small numbers of new packages being released, but cruelly every announcement and adaptation being made has ultimately left older Australians increasingly vulnerable,” Conaghan lamented.

“Since the start of this year, the number of requests for urgent assistance flowing through to my office have increased tenfold. Issues ranging from inhumane wait times for a home package assessment, newly implemented algorithms that arbitrarily strip some recipients of basic essential supports without warning, and a significant escalation of service costs are some of the most common issues. The compounding effects of every new hurdle are leaving many elderly Cowper constituents in significant distress and their care providers at their wits end.”

“To hear from local providers that they have clients in Palliative Care forced to go on a waitlist and subsequently pass away before receiving any level of support isn’t just heartbreaking, it’s indefensible.”

Ben Kleeman, Business Development Specialist at UPA Aged Care Solutions in Port Macquarie has been in discussions with Pat about the recent escalation of problems faced by clients in his care and has asked for urgent support.

“We want to help. We have capacity. We have been through reforms before. But right now, we are disempowered from providing care. We are being told clients are ineligible for the care they need, or they have to wait 6-9 months for an assessment, and then 9-12 months for the package to be assigned: a total of 21 months from care need to funding becoming available,” Mr Kleeman stated.

Nola Turnbull from Kempsey, a fiercely community minded advocate who is herself in her eighties, is currently assisting over two hundred locals in navigating the system.

“I’ve never seen it this bad. People are desperate. They are being told they need to continue to wait for help even though they cannot cope with the most basic day to day tasks. And for those lucky ones who do have care, the charges to their packages have gone through the roof, with things like cleaning and domestic care doubling in price in just six months.”

Mr. Conaghan stated that he has commenced specialised consultations with recipients and providers across the electorate to identify the immediate needs and areas of greatest concern and ensure their voices are heard in Canberra.

“The Cowper electorate has long attracted retirees and older Australians looking for a sea change in their later years. Per capita, Cowper is one of the most heavily impacted electorates by these reforms. We are therefore better placed than most to provide feedback to Labor and shift the dial back in the right direction. It’s imperative that I take the concerns of my constituents directly to the relevant Ministerial teams to facilitate meaningful and urgent change. Older Australians deserve our care and respect. I’ll continue to knock on as many doors as necessary in Canberra to make sure that’s what they receive.”