{"id":6177,"date":"2023-11-01T06:17:00","date_gmt":"2023-10-31T19:17:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/onthecoastpublications.com.au\/onthecoastover55\/?p=6177"},"modified":"2025-08-06T12:06:06","modified_gmt":"2025-08-06T02:06:06","slug":"empowering-seniors-age-in-place-australia-aged-care-specialist-central-coast","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/onthecoastpublications.com.au\/onthecoastover55\/empowering-seniors-age-in-place-australia-aged-care-specialist-central-coast\/","title":{"rendered":"Empowering Seniors to Age in Place: The Growing Demand for Home Care in Australia"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Sophie Doyle, Retirement and Aged care specialist<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sophie Doyle | Erina | Morgans<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Home care is increasing in popularity for older Australians as an alternative to residential care. This is because your client can choose where to live \u2013 either at home or in a retirement community or perhaps with the kids \u2013 and the care they need will come to them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But with popularity comes some downsides \u2013 demand for home care packages exceeds the number that have been made available. Once you are approved for a package, you will go on the waiting list until funding becomes available. This could be a wait of 3 months or longer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About 235,000 older Australians receive help through a home care package, with around 43,550 packages released in the December 2022 quarter. Most people waiting are receiving Commonwealth Home Support Package services, so they have access to some support while waiting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Population impact
<\/strong>Australia\u2019s population is projected to increase to more than 38 million by 2060 (from approximately 25.8 million today) which will place greater strain on transport, infrastructure, housing, education, health and aged care services (including both home and residential aged care).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The population will also age significantly over this time which means more people will likely need to access health and aged care services. The number of people aged 75 years and over is projected to increase by about 4 million between 2012 and 2060.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The need for more aged care services, the desire of people to remain in their own homes, and people living longer creates challenges for the aged care industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In\u2013home care may enable people to remain living in their homes as long as possible by allowing them more choice, control and easier access to a range of services that can be tailored to their specific needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Access to care at home may help delay or even negate the need to move into residential aged care but it generally requires good family\/friend support networks in the home to provide ongoing support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Government subsidised home care services are offered through two programs:<\/p>\n\n\n\n