$1.2 BILLION CUT TO AGED CARE CONTINUES

The Minister replied to my correspondence stating that the government is in Caretaker mode and to write AGAIN after the election. The government cracked down on providers because a small minority overcharged. The majority of providers undercharged for services but everyone has been penalised for the transgression of a few. Now providers are charging more clients more for services. Clients on low incomes with fee waivers are now having to pay for some services that were previously free. Services that have been streamlined are working better but for any extra needed help, aged care clients now have to wait months for a My Aged Care assessment. For example, any service previously supplied by your provider like a spring clean or physio rehabilitation program now requires a My Aged Care assessment. In addition My Aged Care is now involved in local council community services, so an assessment is required for those ongoing or occasional services, and clients have to pay more for those services. Old and frail people have to pay for any help they need which can add up to a lot of expense or go without. Watch out for parties this week vying for your vote with talk of aged care being an election issue who previously did not want to know about it when I contacted them weeks ago. This petition is ongoing to let the government know that it is not right to leave people alone and struggling in their old age. The frail aged deserve to be treated with complete dignity and respect.