Residential aged care homes are reportedly operating at 97–98 per cent capacity.

Press PLAY to hear Penny Fielding discuss the severe shortage of aged care beds

Australia is estimated to require about 10,000 additional aged care beds annually; however, only 800 were created nationwide last year, and capacity in Western Australia actually declined.

Pearl Home Care CEO Penny Fielding told 6PR Mornings host Chrissy Morrissy about the crisis.

“Given that we know that the population is ageing so much, there absolutely must be some planning around home care and aged care beds in people’s communities, so they don’t have to move outside of those networks that we know help them live a better life”, she said.

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