In a pre-Budget submission, over-50s consumer lobby group National Seniors Australia is calling on the Government to build public support for changes to aged care funding, with funding set to increase by $7 billion to $15 billion each year.

National Seniors says a public education campaign is needed to help Australians understand the range of policy options for funding the burgeoning costs of aged care, such as a levy, increasing GST, or changes to the rules governing consumer contributions.

Also in their submission, National Seniors proposes the Government establish 2,000 mature age home care traineeships to attract over-50 workers to the home care sector.

They suggest increasing the supply of rental housing for older people, to address the shortage of community housing and private rentals.

For those entering residential aged care, National Seniors proposes exempting proceeds from asset tests to remove any disincentive for older people to sell their family home and move into more suitable, age-appropriate accommodation.

National Seniors is also proposing a Home Care Loans Scheme, based on the Home Equity Access Scheme, to allow older people to pay for additional support at home or home modifications.

You can read the submission in full here.