About 200 hospital beds in Western Australia are occupied daily by individuals eligible for aged care or home care, according to state budget estimates.
This shortage of aged care beds, particularly in regional areas, is putting pressure on the state’s already strained health system.
Patients are being admitted to hospitals for legitimate health reasons, only to be delayed an extra 10 days on average while waiting for at-home care or 16 days for a residential aged care placement.
The situation has prompted WA’s Shadow Health Minister Libby Mettam to express concern, citing the impact on patient dignity, welfare, and the healthcare system as a whole.
The state government has committed to a $100 million low-interest loan scheme to help aged care providers deliver up to 500 additional concessional aged care beds.
However, WA Minister for Seniors and Aged Care Simone McGurk emphasized that aged care is a federal government responsibility, and there are not enough beds available across the country.
In Northam, a town of over 12,000 people, there is an estimated undersupply of nearly 200 residential aged care beds, predicted to reach 350 beds by 2032, including 160 retirement accommodation places.
The Shire of Northam has reported that 50 aged care clients have relocated to Perth because their needs could no longer be met by the existing facilities.
Local authorities are calling for state and federal government support, with estimates suggesting that private providers would need an investment of over $10 million to provide the required level of aged care in the region.
In the meantime, aged care clients are being forced to leave their communities, highlighting the need for urgent action to address this critical issue.
Those concerned about aged care availability in their area are encouraged to contact their local authorities and express their concerns.