Aged care waiting lists a ‘calculated denial of services’ that could be fatal, Senate inquiry warns

Around 122,000 elderly Australians are waiting for an aged care services assessment, while 109,000 are waiting for a package, the government confirmed in August. Photograph: Jonathan Brady/PA

A Senate inquiry into the delayed aged care scheme has sounded the alarm on the potentially fatal consequences of what it has labelled a “calculated denial” of services as more than 200,000 elderly Australians remain on waiting lists.

The majority report of the Greens-chaired inquiry, released on Wednesday, said the system should be demand-driven, as recommended by the aged care royal commission, instead of offering elderly Australians a limited number of places.