'Unnecessary and cruel': People with MS to lose home care
Marlene Robinson, who has multiple sclerosis, has been told MSWA will stop a home care program which provided support workers to help her with basic tasks like getting dressed.
The Commonwealth-funded Support at Home program, which provides care to people with multiple sclerosis (MS) like Marlene Robinson, is set to end. MSWA, the organisation responsible for the program, cited increased costs and administrative burden following changes to aged care by the Albanese government as the reason for discontinuation.
Clients face a doubling of costs when switching to a new provider, which could put a strain on their limited resources. Ms Robinson, who has lived with MS for 30 years and requires essential personal care, expressed deep concern over the impending loss of support. The program's cessation leaves clients scrambling to find a new provider, many of whom charge significantly higher rates.
MSWA asserts that it will continue providing specialist neurological services but acknowledges the financial constraints they face. The case highlights the challenges faced by older Australians in accessing adequate care amidst escalating costs and regulatory requirements.
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