The federal government is failing in every aspect of aged care, according to MP for Mayo Rebekha Sharkie, and older Australians deserve better treatment.

She says there are currently 220,000 Australians waiting to either be assessed or waiting on delivery of a Home Care Package and  in 2023-34, 3,383 people passed away while waiting for a Home Care Package at their approved level.

Ms Sharkie has moved a motion in Parliament, calling on the government to urgently begin delivery of 80,000 additional packages promised in December last year, and urgently address systemic issues in the CHSP (Commonwealth Home Support Program for entry-level support services).

One of Ms Sharkie’s constituents, Graham, has been waiting more than a year after being assessed and approved for a Level 4 Package. During that time, his degenerative neurological condition has deteriorated, he’s spent nine weeks in hospital and has lost significant mobility.

“Shame on this Government for failing older Australians,” Ms Sharkie says.

“People are dying waiting for aged care. This government promised they were going to put the care into aged care. They promised that back in 2022 and we are in a worse situation now than three years ago.

“We have people who are terminally ill, people who are bedbound, and they're still being assessed as medium priority, and they're still waiting even after a year to get some care in the home.

“Why do we treat older people so much worse than what we treat people who are younger with a disability, who are younger going to school, or those who need to have medical care? It's appalling.

“This government has let older people down; it's let this nation down.”