Organised by federal member for Eden-Monaro Dr Mike Kelly with Newcastle Labor MP Sharon Claydon and Macarthur Labor MP Dr Mike Freelander, who are both on the House of Representatives Standing committee on Health, Aged Care and Sport, the 50-strong meeting heard from the community about aged care concerns.

Accessing My Aged Care, the availability of home care packages, support for the growing number of people with dementia and the future of Bega Valley’s Meals on Wheels and community transport services were raised, with community members talking about their own experiences.

“I have been overwhelmed and angered by the number of people contacting me in desperation about waiting for an approved home care package,” Dr Kelly said.

He said the waiting list now exceeds 105,000 nationally. In the recent federal budget 14,000 places, 3500 for the next four years, were announced but Ms Claydon said no extra money had been allocated in the budget.

“The money is coming out of residential aged care. They are robbing one part to pay another,” she said.

The issue was taken up by the CWA of NSW when Eden member Sharyn Nammensma successfully put a motion to the CWA conference calling on the federal government to ensure equity in the distribution of My Aged Care packages, with improved access for rural areas.

Home care packages help to keep people in their own home for longer but a lack of care packages can often mean a partner is forced to see their loved one go into a home because they cannot cope without assistance.

Of particular concern was the future of Bega Valley Meals on Wheels and community transport services which will be unfunded from June 2020.

Meals on Wheels manager David Atkins said no one knew what was happening.

“The Commonwealth Home Support Program finishes in two years. Meals on Wheels and community transport services have 400 clients and 300 volunteers. By June 2020 it will cease,” Mr Atkins told the meeting.

“These services help keep people out of aged care homes,” he said adding that the government had given no indication about the future of the services.

Dr Kelly said he had raised the matter a couple of years ago but had been accused of scaremongering. “We need government to be clear, there is no certainty around it. There is an over-emphasis on trying to cut the workforce,” he said.

Dr Freelander said it was a failure of policy. “We need to commit to the funding”, he said.

Dementia was another concern with Sharon Tapscott calling for better low level care.

“Someone with early onset dementia still needs social interaction and support but there is no transitional care here to allow someone to live securely but in their own space.

In 2018, it is estimated there are 425,416 Australians living with dementia according to statistics from Dementia Australia. Without a medical breakthrough, the number of people with dementia is expected to increase to 536,164 by 2025 and almost 1,100,890 by 2056.

Dr Freelander said government must invest in research and while genetic and lifestyle causes were indicators, much more needed to be done.

He said the House of Representatives Standing Committee was involved in an inquiry into aged care.

“People are now going into aged care homes sicker but this move to reduce the number of registered nurses is an issue. You can’t run aged care in-patient services without RNs and there are difficulties in having poorly trained staff in these situations,” Dr Freelander said.

“To de-politicise it, yes the present government is not doing well but previous governments have not done well. These problems have been building up for 20 to 30 years,” Dr Freelander said.

Those trying to access home care packages must navigate the My Aged Care website, something that some older people find difficult.

Helen Kuriger from Bega Valley Meals on Wheels called the process “daunting” adding that a person can have up to eight assessments for an entry level service.

“Every week I assist people with the My Aged Care process,” Ms Kuriger said.

Asked what he was taking away from the meeting Dr Kelly said it was really important to get local feedback into the policy development and cited the My Aged Care feedback, the need to have the right type of facilities designed and the challenges associated with growing numbers of dementia patients.