All shires in the AROC sub-region, except for Northam, reported waiting lists for available older persons housing (Northam information may have been incomplete). Population projections imply escalating demand, with a near doubling of the sub-regional 70+ population in the next 15 years.
The shire roles will need to be shared with housing organisations and/or supported with new resourcing. State government agencies can play a positive role by working with the sub-region to develop innovative approaches. Varied ownership options need to be examined to meet the range of older people who may be seeking appropriate, well located housing.
Where shires are required to be involved they will be understandably reluctant to assume all the burden of assessing, planning and facilitating the building of required housing. A collaborative approach will be needed, involving local housing organisations, shires, AROC and state government.
Most sub-region shires report good levels of HACC service but Chittering and Victoria Plains show a lower level of HACC availability according to state HACC data. Evidence gathered for this project indicates that there is a variable range of HACC services delivered in different shires. For example, delivered meals are not available in Chittering or Victoria Plains. That shire, along with Dowerin and Chittering, appear to have a smaller available range of HACC services. Goomalling reports the largest available range of HACC services. There is reportedly good current availability of the higher level Home Care packages in most sub-region shires, although some report deficiencies (Dowerin and Victoria Plains).
The generally good availability of Home Care is likely because many of the Wheatbelt's Home Care providers are based in the sub-region. However, there is a major challenge facing the AROC sub-region. By 2022, the new Home Care planning ratios will have increased dramatically and the projected 70+ population in the AROC is predicted to be 3,319. After applying the new ratios to the higher population, the number of available Home Care packages in the sub-region should rise to 153. There will need to be 100 new Home Care places made available in AROC over the next nine years.
Note that on available evidence the locally based supply of Home Care may be masking the current Residential Care gap (see below), but, in addition, it is suspected that this is also tending to 'capture' Home Care places in the sub-region to the detriment of the remaining Wheatbelt. There was also evidence of difficulties in accessing support or care in the home in some of the shires within the sub-region e.g. Dowerin.
Residential Care is available primarily at not for profit facilities in Northam and at the Western Australia Country Health Service (WACHS) Multi-Purpose Service at Goomalling. There are 97 operational/funded beds in the sub-region. This is far short of the numbers that should be available under Commonwealth planning ratios which, on a 2011 population of 2,100, stood at 185 beds under the then ratios.
Looking to the future, predicted 70+ population growth to 4,120 by 2027 yields a planning requirement for around 330 total beds to be available inside 15 years i.e. more than 230 additional beds will likely be needed over current capacity within a relatively short planning timeframe.