The introduction of the Aged Care Bill 2024

November 26, 2024 – Aged Care Bill 2024 Passed through Parliament

The Australian government announced that the Aged Care Bill 2024 has officially passed through Parliament. This means that a new Aged Care Act will start from 1 July, 2025.

In summary, older Australians can expect the following from the new program:

• Shorter wait times to access home care
• More support levels for home care
• Earlier access to restorative care services, which has been extended from 8 weeks to 12 weeks
• Funding for home modifications
• Support for end-of-life care at home

The Government will cover 100% of clinical care services. Older Australians will be required to contribute towards support services like showering, gardening, and meal preparation.

The new act is a rights-based approach that places older people and their needs at the centre of the legislative framework.

This bill replaces outdated legislation, bringing aged care in line with modern needs and the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.

The new Support at Home program is set to launch in 2025, replacing current Home Care Packages and Short-Term Restorative Care.

By 2035, 1.4 million older Australians will benefit from this program, which provides tailored, flexible support to help people remain in their homes and communities longer.

The program will provide a budget to older people, allowing them to access services and support.

Key features of the Support at Home program include:

• Eight levels of ongoing tailored support, with funding from $11,000 up to $78,000 per year.
• Pathways for people needing restorative care or end of life care, and an extension to restorative care services, from 8 weeks to 12 weeks.
• Three categories of support – clinical care (such as nursing), independence (such as help with showering) and everyday living (such as cleaning and gardening).
• Shorter average wait times from assessment to receiving support.
• Support for home modifications, with up to $15,000 to make a home safer.
• Faster access to assistive technology like walkers and wheelchairs through a new equipment loan scheme.

The government will remain the major funder of aged care. They will pay 100 per cent of clinical care services, with individual contributions going towards the other categories of independence and everyday living.

NB: Individual contributions will be based on a means test and will be highly dependent on your personal circumstances – such as what level of support you need, along with the income and assets you have.

You will only pay for the services you receive, with no daily fees charged by providers.

The reform includes a “no worse off” principle, ensuring people already in aged care will not pay more under the new system. This applies to people who, on 12 September 2024, were receiving a Home Care Package, in the National Priority System, or assessed as eligible for a package.

The team at Lifetime Connect are committed in supporting these changes for our clients, future clients and their loved ones. We will continue to keep you updated on any impact they may have on your care.

If you are already a Home Care Package client with us, the ‘no worse off’ principle applies to you. From July 1 2025, you will move to the new home program and maintain your level of funding plus any unspent funds.

If you are not already a Home Care Package client with us, there’s no need to wait for the new system to start a conversation with us about what you may currently be eligible for.  Please feel free to contact one of our team members or our Care Finder Coordinator on 6568 2522 or My Aged Care (1800 200 422).