Cyril Tooze, who spoke out in October about his 12-month wait to receive home care despite being assessed as needing the highest level care, has died.

Mr Tooze, 86, from the Adelaide Hills, was terminally ill with heart and lung conditions. He had endured a lengthy stay in hospital triggered by a fall. 

Before his death last Friday, Mr Tooze weighed 42kg despite being six feet tall and had told media that he would seek Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD).

“This is no life,” he stated at the time. “There is no dignity.” 

The Sunday before he died, Rebekha Sharkie MP, the Independent Member for Mayo who advocated for Mr Tooze, attended a gathering in hospital for Mr Tooze organised by his friends. She told The SOURCE:

"It was a privilege to know Cyril. He wanted me to do everything I could to let people know there are 76,000 people like him waiting for a home care package. He did not want it to be forgotten." 

Aged Care Minister Anika Wells told The SOURCE:

"My thoughts are with Cyril’s family and friends as we mourn their loss but appreciate Cyril’s life and his commitment to helping older Australians.

"I spoke with Cyril last month and his story and others like his are among the key reasons the Government and I are committed to reforming the aged care system."

As we report this week, Budget Estimates has heard that in 2023-24 more than 3,300 older Australians died while waiting for their correct level of home care to come through.

The official wait time for an ACAT assessment is an average of 48 days – more than six weeks – while wait times from assessment to receive the correct level of Package are officially up to a year. Anecdotally, we often hear of longer waits.