A Senate inquiry into the delayed aged care scheme has sounded the alarm on the potentially fatal consequences of what it has labelled a “calculated denial” of services as more than 200,000 elderly Australians remain on waiting lists.

The majority report of the Greens-chaired inquiry, released on Wednesday, said the system should be demand-driven, as recommended by the aged care royal commission, instead of offering elderly Australians a limited number of places.

The new system, which will begin funding its first 20,000 packages this month, provides elderly Australians with in-home care and services, such as cleaning, bathing, feeding, taking medications and transport, as demand for aged care services is expected to surge in the coming decades.

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