MARY Marshall worries that as she and her husband get older, the care needed may not be available in Bacchus Marsh.
The Bacchus Marsh Senior Citizens group president is only 65, but with husband Frank in his early 80s, Mrs Marshall often considers the care they may require in the next 20 years.
“What we need is a three-stage facility, with low-care residential units, a low-care facility and a high-care facility,” she says.
“Public housing is sparse, so those that are renting and not earning much of a pension are left in a less-than-ideal situation.
“I only get $560 a fortnight and I’m lucky I can combine that with Frank’s $560.
“But by the time you pay bills, food, Medicare and car costs you’re not left with much.”
In March 2013, Melton electorate pensioners will receive a lump-sum payment of up to $250, followed by a pension increase of $338 a year.
Last month, the federal government announced a $3.7 billion aged-care reform package in response to industry pleas for funding, improved in-home care and staff support.
Parliamentary secretary for health and ageing Catherine King discussed reforms at Bacchus Marsh’s Catholic Homes Providence Aged Care facility last Thursday.
She said people increasingly want care at home and the reforms would provide dramatic increases in-home care packages.
Ms King said more elderly residents could receive care at home and fewer would be forced into an emergency ‘fire sale’ of their home to get access to aged care.
Aged and Community Care Victoria chief executive Gerard Mansour says streamlining the aged-care entry system, through a single gateway and by removing the concept of high and low care, is long overdue.
