Imagine being unable to speak or eat, battling cancer, and then being told you’ll have to wait up to nine months for the care you desperately need. This is the harsh reality for thousands of older Australians caught in a system that’s failing them. Peter O’Shannessy’s story is a heart-wrenching example of how delays in aged care assessments can lead to unimaginable suffering. After undergoing extensive throat cancer surgery, the 74-year-old was approved for a level-three home care package—a lifeline that promised a recliner, a suction machine, and a personal carer. But here’s where it gets even more devastating: Peter’s family was placed in a national queue of over 121,000 people, with an estimated wait time of seven to nine months. By the time his cancer returned, Peter was terminal, yet the system moved at a glacial pace. His daughter, Eloise Randall, pleaded for urgent reassessment, but even that was scheduled eight weeks out. Peter died just four weeks before his reassessment, leaving his family shattered. And this is the part most people miss: Peter’s final weeks were spent in fear and discomfort, while his wife, exhausted and unsupported, bore the brunt of his care. Aspire4Life, the not-for-profit tasked with his reassessment, couldn’t comment on his case due to government contracts, but acknowledged the overwhelming demand for services. They claim to be investing to meet this demand, yet families like Peter’s are still being left behind. But here’s where it gets controversial: The government partially privatized aged care assessments in December 2022, handing over responsibility to companies like Aspire4Life at a cost of over $1.2 billion. Critics argue that these companies were ill-prepared, leading to delays and dehumanized assessments. Former assessor Coral Wilkinson believes the workforce wasn’t ready, and ex-clinical assessor Janine Mason quit her role at a private company, citing pressure to rush assessments. Even more alarming? Mason revealed a practice where elderly individuals are dropped from waiting lists if they don’t respond to three phone calls—often without their knowledge. While the government denies long wait times, claiming a median of 23 days for assessments, families and workers tell a different story. The royal commission in 2021 never recommended privatization, yet over half of the contracted assessment companies are also service providers, raising concerns about conflicts of interest. So, here’s the question: Is the current system prioritizing profit over people’s lives? Peter’s family is still grieving, and they fear for the countless vulnerable Australians without support. His final wish was to speak again, but the system left him—and his family—voiceless. What do you think? Is privatization the answer, or are we failing our elderly population? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
