Elderly people receiving state government care services in their homes are concerned they will be denied basic assistance under a plan to transfer the scheme to the private sector.
A letter to recipients of home care provided by Ageing, Disability and Home Care (ADHC) explaining the changes states that services "will be funded by the NDIS".
People aged over 65, who comprise a large proportion of those receiving ADHC services, are not eligible for the NDIS.
Chief executive of the Councils on the Ageing Ian Yates has criticised the way the change has been communicated to elderly people receiving care in their homes.
"Older people have understandably become anxious because they have been told their service will stop on June 30," he said.
He said people aged over 65 would not receive NDIS support but would still be able to receive government-subsidised care, such as help with cooking and cleaning, in their homes.
Senior policy advisor for the Combined Pensioners and Superannuants Association Charmaine Crowe questioned whether a private operator would offer the same standard of care provided by ADHC, which is the single biggest provider of ageing and disability services in the state, making up 40 per cent of the sector.
"It is a concern because once it goes into the private sector, a lot of the safety nets provided by the state government will be removed," she said. "Can they turn people away if their needs are too costly? What kind of care standards will the new provider offer?"
Multinationals Bupa and Serco have been named as front runners to take over services ADHC provides to about 90,000 people in NSW.
"There is a question of cost," she said. "Private for profit providers are always going to have competing interests. Serco has a responsibility to its shareholders as does Bupa. The people who have contacted us have been worried they will be priced out of home care."
ADHC employs about 14,000 people with the Public Service Association saying about 50 per cent of the workforce will leave the industry if it is privatised.
Disability services minister John Ajaka said the new provider would have to offer the same support at the same price currently charged by ADHC.
"The government will ensure that the new operator of Home Care will continue providing the same high quality services to existing clients without disruption," he said.
"Currently Home Care fees are established according to Commonwealth and NSW Government guidelines. These guidelines seek a contribution to the cost of care, calculated by a person's capacity to pay. A new operator would have to abide by the same guidelines."
