Caps on cleaning and gardening scrapped in aged care reform
Share
The Australian Government’s decision to scrap limits on cleaning and gardening services under the Support at Home program has been met with widespread approval from aged care advocates, who call it a victory for older Australians’ safety and well-being.
The removal of the caps—previously set at 52 hours annually for cleaning and 18 hours for gardening—was praised by the Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) as a crucial step toward meeting the practical needs of older people.
“Older people have told us countless times that a cap of 52 hours per annum on cleaning and 18 hours per annum on gardening is woefully inadequate,” said OPAN Director of Policy and Systemic Advocacy Samantha Edmonds.
She highlighted the importance of additional cleaning hours for individuals with health challenges and gardening for safety purposes. “If you are an older person with continence issues, one hour of cleaning a week is simply not enough to keep your home at a hygienic standard. Older people may also require additional gardening for safety reasons, such as fire hazard reduction.”
The decision aligns with the Albanese Labor Government’s broader aged care reforms under the new Aged Care Act, which aims to prioritise the dignity, safety and independence of older Australians.
The Support at Home program, part of a $4.3 billion investment, will provide more personalised, flexible home care services, including assistance with cleaning, gardening and other tasks to help older people live independently.
Despite celebrating the removal of caps, OPAN continues to advocate for additional changes, particularly around co-contribution payments for personal and respite care.
“We clearly said in our submission to the Aged Care Bill 2024 that no fees should be charged for personal or respite care,” Ms. Edmonds said. “When older people avoid these services due to cost, it impacts their health and wellbeing and results in further pressure on the healthcare system when they need more advanced care.”
OPAN has called for either the complete removal of co-contributions or caps on payments to ensure affordability. “If the government does not remove co-contribution payments, there should be caps to ensure that cost does not present a barrier to accessing these important services,” Edmonds added.
