Small surplus for home care providers
However, sector continues to operate with uncertainty as it waits on reform of the Support at Home program.
A marginal financial uptick for the home care sector, says the latest industry data.
Crunching statistics from 73,829 home care packages, StewartBrown’s Aged Care Financial Performance Survey Report for six months ended 31 December 2023 found that operating results increased slightly for the reporting period to a surplus of $2.69 per client per day, compared to $2.54 the previous year.
Tracking staff hours, the report’s authors find they decreased to an average of 5.37 per client per week, compared to 5.41 for Dec-22. “Consistent with residential aged care, staffing remains the most crucial concern for home care,” say the authors.
Revenue utilisation for the period decreased to 82.7 per cent of available package funding and unspent funds increased to an average of $13,963 for every home care recipient.
The report finds that consumer contributions to home care remains low, representing less than 2.6 per cent of the funding envelope.
Overall, say the authors, “home care continues to operate with uncertainty” as the sector waits for the reform of the Support at Home program, scheduled for implementation from 1 July 2025.
Follow Community Care Review on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn and sign up to our newsletter.
