John Piggott and Bei Lu

This submission addresses two issues. First, it argues that more attention should be given to harnessing informal care, from relatives, friends and the community, in complementing professional home care services. This would facilitate lower costs of home care, addressing especially the terms of reference: (b) and (c). Second, it focuses on the degree to which the expansion of the home care program can continue to substitute for residential aged care. This issue is germane to term of reference e(e).

The submission is written with an acute awareness that demographic pressures will dominate the sector for the next generation. The Australian Bureau of Statistics projects that the number of Australians aged 80 and over will increase from just over 1 million today to almost 4 million by 2071 – the leading edge of the baby boom generation turns 80 about now.