By Laura Michell
Whittlesea council will continue to offer aged care services, despite a number of council deciding to pull out of the sector.
A number of Victorian councils have stopped offering aged care services over the past three years, citing funding uncertainty following a federal government decision to reform the aged care sector.
However, Whittlesea’s administrators have opted to continuing providing council-run aged care services to provide clients with “certainty and confidence”.
A report to council’s Monday, November 21 meeting stated council supports about 15,000 clients annually, as well as 84 senior citizens clubs.
The report stated that in 2021-22, council delivered more than 95,000 hours of service to its aging well clients, with the services offered by council including home care, personal care, respite, food services and property maintenance.
Chair administrator Lydia Wilson said she believed it was critical that council continue offering aged care services.
“In 2021 [Census], we have some 29 per cent of the total population of Whittlesea aged 50-plus and the projection is that population is going to increase over the next 20 years by an additional 47,000 people – that is huge,” she said.
“There have been ongoing funding issues for Victorian councils for delivery of aged care service s… a number of councils have contracted out of direct service delivery in this area
“I really believe it is critical we continue providing services supporting the health and wellbeing of our growing older population, just like we continue to provide services such as maternal and child health or library services.
“This guarantees services will be available to City of Whittlesea residents, who are also potentially more vulnerable.”
Administrator Peita Duncan said she believed council had a very good reputation in delivery aged care services.
“I think it is incumbent on us to look after the vulnerable in our community and that obviously is our ageing population,” she said.
