One of the top concerns for Australians using Home Care Packages are the unreasonably high administration and management fees charged by some providers.
Aged care funding should be spent on improving the care of older Australians, not management bonuses, new office fit outs or glossy marketing schemes.
According to the Grattan Institute, an average of about 25 per cent of home care fees are taken up by administration and management costs. While providers do need to meet costs for staff support and training, evidence to the Aged Care Royal Commission showed some organisations are gouging as much as 50 per cent from people’s packages.
And as many as 40 per cent of all complaints to the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission relate to fees.
These unacceptably high fees lead to older Australians missing out on the care they need to keep living at home.
Older Australians need a government that isn’t afraid to put the quality of their care and safety first.
An Albanese Labor Government will:
The cost of these changes will be met from within departmental resources.
There are many good quality operators doing the right thing. These changes will protect the reputation of the sector.
These measures build on our plan to support Home Care staff by introducing a new registration scheme, measures to improve continuity of care and supporting the aged care workers’ case for fairer wages at the Fair Work Commission.