Home care quadrupled in the last decade

Data released by the Australian Health and Welfare Institute reveals the number of older Australians accessing home care has grown by over 200,000 in the past 10 years.

Between 2013 and 2023, the number of people opting to receive care at home increased more than fourfold – from 57,000 to 258,000 people (357 per cent). Compare this with the number of people using permanent residential care, which saw an increase of 9.5 per cent (from 169,000 to 185,000 people).

The number of home care recipients increased by 57 per cent (almost 27,000) between 2019 and 2020, representing the most significant year-on-year increase.

This is due, in part, to Australia's aging population, with the number of people aged 65 and over increasing by 32 per cent during this time.

However, much of the commentary around the adoption of home care in Australia focuses on one key element: choice.

Earlier this year, the federal government budgeted half a billion dollars for investment into additional home care packages (HCP) in response to Royal Commission recommendations. The $531.4m provided an additional 24,100 HCP places, allowing for "more choice" for older Australians.

"Ensuring dignity and security for older Australians means allowing people to choose the care that’s right for them – including staying in their own home," Treasurer Jim Chalmers said at the announcement of the budget in May.

Home care's rise has coincided with the introduction of My Aged Care, which started in 2013 in response to recommendations from the Productivity Commission after its 2011 inquiry into aged care services.

A recent White Paper released by online aged care platform Mable looked at the positive outcomes associated with allowing those who are in need of care to dictate how, when and where they receive it, looking at the differences between traditional providers and unregistered online providers.

A key finding of the White Paper, Championing People’s Choice and Control with Innovation, revealed that 80 per cent of aged care clients surveyed said the best match between them and a support worker was made when using an online platform.

Mable CFO Emma Clarke said that over the 10 years Mable has been in operation, it has seen more and more people wanting to exercise their right to choose.

"The benefit really comes down to the fact that the clients get choice," she said.

"The client gets to choose who is actually coming in, what they're doing and when they're doing it, and it can be someone that they can forge a personal connection with.

"Our core value proposition is facilitating highly compatible matches between the consumer, the aged care clients and the support workers that are based on the specific requirements that the client actually wants."

Ninety-one per cent of aged care clients surveyed said the ability to choose what services they receive and from which support worker was important to them.

Mable’s co-founder and chief Tony Charara said that the addition of online platforms to the provision of residential and traditional aged care is the way to "future-proof" the sector.

"This White Paper demonstrates there is a need to reshape Australia’s care and support sector to ensure it is fit for a diverse and modern workforce that can meet the individual needs of older people and people with disability," he said.

“The reality is that people's goals, wants, and needs are diverse. Therefore, it is essential not to see
the sector as one homogenous market but as thousands of smaller heterogenous marketplaces
defined by different geographic regions, cultural groups and individual needs and preferences.

“By embracing tech-enabled innovation, diverse working arrangements and respecting people’s
individual needs, wants and preferences, we can ensure the long-term financial stability of Australia's
care and support sector and make the most efficient and effective use of government funding."

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