Phillips, Claydon, Freelander: Moruya Forum To Focus On Aged Care In a Media Release issued today Labor Candidate for Gilmore, Fiona Phillips, announced she will host community discussions at the Moruya Golf Club from Midday on Tuesday 25 September as part of a series of nationwide conversations looking at how we can create a more effective, responsive and supportive aged care system. With one in four residents of Gilmore aged 65 and over, the issue of aged care and dementia will be high on the agenda when Labor’s Medicare Taskforce meets with residents and aged care professionals in Moruya this week. “This is an incredibly important issue in our region, where one in four of us is aged 65 or over,” Ms Phillips said adding that one of the key topics on the agenda would be the ballooning wait list for home care packages which exceeds more than 100,000 nationally. “More than 100,000 people wait up to a year or more for government support that allows them to stay in their home. Many of these have high needs and are living with dementia,” she said. “The impact these wait times are having on the quality of life for older people in our community cannot be ignored,” she said. “There is urgency when someone is assessed as being eligible for in-home support,” Ms Phillips said. “People deserve to get the care they need and right now they’re missing out” Ms Phillips said. Taskforce Chair and Federal Member for Newcastle Sharon Claydon said older Australians and their families “have every right to feel betrayed by the Liberal Government”. “Before the Budget, Scott Morrison boasted that a big boost to aged care would be the centrepiece of the Budget, but this turned out to be an utter sham,” Ms Claydon said. “We now know the Government didn’t invest a single extra dollar in aged care. Instead, it cut residential care places to cobble together the funding for the extra 14,000 home care packages.” Taskforce Deputy Chair and Federal Member of Macarthur Dr Mike Freelander said the Morrison Government “blatantly misinformed” older Australians about its aged care investment. “It occurs to me, that the Liberals are too busy fighting amongst themselves instead of focusing on what matters” Dr Freelander said. “Shockingly, more than 21,000 residential aged care places will be cut over the next three years to pay for 14,000 home care packages.” “Data finally released last month on the waiting list for home care packages reveals there are now 108,000 older Australians waiting for care. Far too many older Australians living across the country are waiting for a package and the care that they need,” Dr Freelander said. Labor’s Medicare Taskforce Aged Care and Dementia Forum will be held on Tuesday 25 September, Midday – 2pm at the Moruya Golf Club. “We hope to meet with people who have experiences and insights to share regarding our homecare and residential aged care system, people living with dementia and their carers,” Ms Phillips said. Fiona Phillips said anyone who would like to be a part of this important discussion should contact her on: LaborForGilmore@gmail.com
