Aged Care Act Senate inquiry: National Older Persons Reference Group member Helen Walne gives evidence.
Helen Walne told a Senate inquiry last week that her health had deteriorated significantly in the wake of increased transport costs.
Helen, a member of OPAN’s National Older Persons Reference Group, suffers from arthritis, advanced osteoporosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). To maintain healthy independence, she requires a variety of supervised therapies, such as hydrotherapy, Pilates and a lung rehabilitation program.
For several years, Helen was charged flat ‘pensioners’ fee of $18.00 each time she travelled to an appointment. However, at the end of last year, she was advised that, as a Home Care Package (HCP) recipient, she would now be charged by the kilometre.
‘This equates to my journeys to hospital clinics, which I attend quite regularly, now costing $120 plus, and even more to the public dental clinic,’ she told the Senate Inquiry into the Aged Care Bill 2024 at a public hearing in Devonport, Tasmania, on 4 October.
Since there are insufficient funds in her Level 3 HCP to cover the increased travel costs, Helen has been unable to access recommended preventative therapies for the last 10 months. .
Hospital admission
‘My health has deteriorated significantly this year and resulted in a second emergency hospital admission due to an exacerbation of COPD, emphysema, choking,’ she said in her evidence.
‘Medical advice is for me to participate in supervised therapies to at least maintain some sort of general health and independence, but the transport costs have prevented me from doing this.
‘I strongly believe that older people like me living in regional, rural and remote areas, need an extra subsidy or supplement paid to providers … to get to the needed services, the same as someone living in the metropolitan areas such as Hobart.’
Helen told the inquiry the current process was discriminatory, causing disabilities and limiting the independence and health of people living in outer regions.
‘Transport is a nationwide issue for people on a package. We urgently need a review of the fee structure … to provide us with the financial means to accommodate our transport costs.’
Read Helen’s full statement on the Parliament of Australia website.
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