Aged care - crisis point
29, Jul, 2010 (4:15 PM)
A shocking story emerged last week of a Brisbane man who lost his leg because the aged care facility he was living at failed to treat his broken leg for a month and as a result, his leg had to be amputated.
National Seniors hears of similar distressing stories and that is why we are calling for aged care to be addressed as a key priority in this election.
Our polling shows 98 per cent of older Australians consider aged care important and that one in 10 would switch their vote because of it.
What do you think should be done to improve aged care in Australia? 
What can be done to convince politicians to take aged care more seriously?
Disclaimer: any personal details shared here are public and can be found on internet searches.
Aged care - crisis point
29, Jul, 2010 (4:15 PM)
A shocking story emerged last week of a Brisbane man who lost his leg because the aged care facility he was living at failed to treat his broken leg for a month and as a result, his leg had to be amputated.
National Seniors hears of similar distressing stories and that is why we are calling for aged care to be addressed as a key priority in this election.
Our polling shows 98 per cent of older Australians consider aged care important and that one in 10 would switch their vote because of it.
What do you think should be done to improve aged care in Australia?
What can be done to convince politicians to take aged care more seriously?
Disclaimer: any personal details shared here are public and can be found on internet searches.
Comments (49)
Rob Spencer - 2, September, 2010 (17:10)
sunny - 27, August, 2010 (8:59)
Lorikeet - 16, August, 2010 (17:05)
Yes, that's right. I think the govt aims to get as many people with disabilities out to work, and then dump the rest of them on the dole, or worse.
In the future, if you are "unproductive", you will also be deemed "unsustainable", and then dispensed with.
rob Spencer - 12, August, 2010 (19:48)
Lorikeet - 11, August, 2010 (16:57)
I'm sorry to hear of your wife's sad circumstances and the difficulty in obtaining the help you need.
For about 2 years, the people who have been going into High Care have been in much worse shape than previously.
A backlog of people requiring High Care spend months in hospital waiting for a place.
Today Nicola Roxon (Minister for Health & Ageing) debated Peter Dutton (Shadow Minister) at the National Press Club.
She has promised to provide dedicated beds for seniors in hospitals, which is long overdue.
Peter Dutton said Labor had promised to train $7,750 new nurses, while only providing 360 places. I don't think this could be true, because the aged care centre where my mother resides always seems to have oodles of trainee Assistants in Nursing and Registered Nurses coming through.
Peter Dutton sid he would put $3.1 billion into new hospital beds.
Nicola Roxon blamed Liberals for "cuts, blind spots, a history of neglect". This sounded like the kettle calling the pot black to me.
Peter Dutton accused Labor of referring Aged Care to the Productivity Commission. I don't think nurses could improve productivity without someone having a heart attack.
Lots of promises were made by both sides, but I thought Nicola Roxon won the debate, mostly on talk rather than action.
Ron Tyas - 11, August, 2010 (9:35)
Maree has been assessed by ACAT (Aged Care Assessment Team) as entitled to residential care at a high level or, if we choose to care for her at home, we are entitled to access the EACH (Extended Aged Care at Home) Package. This package is very supportive as it provides significant support for home carers – 10+ hours per week for about $56.00 per week (17.5% of the age pension).
I have chosen to care for Maree at home as long as possible and have applied to access an EACH Package.
I have applied with a number of providers for the package but have been told by all that there is a waiting list. I understand there are up to forty on the waiting list for EACH Packages in the Caboolture area and only one package has become available in the last twelve months. This is an outrageous situation and I can't believe that a caring government would allow this situation to continue.
At aged 69 with a chronic disease we might as well forget the entitlement as Maree is not likely to be around for 40 years to take advantage of the package. However that is not my style – we are entitled to this support and I will fight until I receive our entitlement.
How does the Government expect to keep people out of nursing homes if they don't provide the resources we are entitled to?
What is the use of telling us we are entitled to the package if we cannot access it? That just creates false hopes and is very unkind.
We didn't create the entitlement, the Government did and they have not provided adequate resources to fund it. This shows callous disregard for the sacrifice that dedicated carers make.
christine - 10, August, 2010 (22:13)
I haven't come across an Aged care facility that is truly caring, genuine, compassionate with staff who care and look after their residents. There are not enough staff to care for the residents and that's an unfortunate fact of life.
What can be done about it - its URGENT that all aged care facilities have adequate staff and they don't by any means.
Lorikeet - 10, August, 2010 (9:48)
I guess you are one of those fluoride extremists. You forgot the one about fluoride and aluminium being found in the brains of dementia and Alzheimer's sufferers.
While I don't think we should have NO CHOICE as to our consumption of fluoride in the water supply, and therefore would like it removed, the main factors to prevent tooth decay include:
1. Brushing and flossing
2. Good nutrition
3. Genetic inheritance (a tough one)
4. Regular dental checkups and cleaning
5. Fluoride tablets/drops in the early years.
Two of my children had perfect teeth at 18. Now at 35 and 36, the younger son still has perfect teeth and the older son's teeth are completely rotten due to neglect.
My youngest son aged 18, has a couple of fillings, possibly due to the fact the fluoride dose was reduced for his age group.
To my knowledge, dementia and Alzheimer's are both due to genetic inheritance, but can be brought on earlier if a person doesn't get adequate mental stimulation.
Marilyn Vine - 9, August, 2010 (8:16)
Also if fluoride was removed now then the new generation that is growing up would not be suffering the horrific ordeals of going through hip, shoulder and knee replacements.
Fluoride is known to cause osteosarcoma especially in boys.
If people stopped using sugar, consuming fruit juices/soft drinks containing sugar or artificial sweeteners and raised their level of Vitamin D which incidentally can be done by just going in the sun for 20 minutes each day with bare skin - then the incidence of dental decay, cancer and heart disease would decrease even more!
We need to take control of our own health - do our own research and stop relying on professional health organisations which continue to give out the same old rhetoric despite the many scientific studies proving that what they say is TOTALLY WRONG.
BE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOURSELF AND YOU WILL FIND YOUR HEALTH WILL IMPROVE!
Lorikeet - 8, August, 2010 (8:29)
10. I think it is unreasonable to expect women to work for the whole of their lives while raising 3 or more children. When will you stop paying a Baby Bonus, considering the birth rate is still below Zero Population Growth at 1.9 per couple, and will eventually result in a complete Baby Bust?
11. When will you cease empowering large corporations over government and people?
12. When will you force large corporations to put their names up on the buildings and businesses from which they are secretly profitting?
13. Can you give us a guarantee that you will not financially empower large corporations to fleece the general community by bringing in a Carbon Trading Scheme?
Lorikeet - 8, August, 2010 (8:23)
1. When will you give Aged Care workers equal pay with hospital staff?
2. When will you make a separate funding arrangement for staffing, to prevent service providers from siphoning off money which should be paid in wages?
3. When will you put a quota on all Aged Care staff classifications, so that the rights of workers and residents are both protected and respected?
4. When will you put a cap on bonds that can be charged for Low Care?
5. When will you heavily fine service providers for breaches of the Aged Care Act 1997?
And here are some other questions I handed to each candidate:
6. A humanitarian society looks after the poor and the disadvantaged. When will you cease giving out large sums of money to the Middle Class and the Wealthy, and start spending more on frail elderly people, the homeless and the poor?
7. When will you increase unemployment benefits so that older unemployed people can afford to eat?
8. Households on incomes of $100,000 can look after themselves and their children without financial assistance of any kind. When will you put conservative limits on access to the Health Insurance Rebate, Education Rebate, Child Care Rebate and Paid Parental Leave?
7. When will you stop paying the wives of high income earners the equivalent of a pension (or more) to go out to work.
(continued next post)
Rob Spencer - 7, August, 2010 (12:15)
Lorikeet - 6, August, 2010 (21:34)
I think your arguments lack consideration of such things as loyalty, commitment, responsibility and even hygiene.
I think most of us do plenty of things we don't want to do. How often have you wanted to clean a toilet?
One of my kids once said that the whole of life might just be a hologram. Well, how did cleaning a toilet slip in?
How about this? Looking after my mother when no one else wants to do anything. I don't remember wanting that.
Michael on the Gold Coast - 4, August, 2010 (17:51)
You are going to have to read my book to find out :-)
You can google it. Globalism World of Plenty.
Michael on the Gold Coast - 4, August, 2010 (17:39)
To use the example you used. You said, " Lots of people work in low paid jobs because it is all they can get, and it's the only way they can put food on the table for their families. They may hate their jobs, but they have no other alternative."
Yes they do have an alternative. They do have a choice within the limits of their physical and mental capabilities, economic circumstance and the law. They could walk away and leave it all behind. It's their choice. They don't have to stay and put food on the table for their family and work at a job they hate.
If I said to this person, bearing in mind the person’s circumstance, “What do you WANT to do, do you WANT to stay and put food on the table for your family and work at a job you hate, or do you WANT to walk away from it all?” I’m sure the reply would be, “I WANT to stay and put food on the table for my family and work at a job I hate.” Like I said we all do what we WANT to do. There’s always an alternative.
As regards democracy its hard to get ones voice heard as you rightly point out when you say, "If you want to run as an Independent, or belong to a small political party, you have little more than Buckley's Chance of getting media coverage."
However I prefer it to a dictatorship. At least in a democracy you do have a chance to change the government every so often if you want. :-)
Lorikeet - 4, August, 2010 (16:47)
I don't think it is true that everyone does exactly what they want to do. Lots of people work in low paid jobs because it is all they can get, and it's the only way they can put food on the table for their families. They may hate their jobs, but they have no other alternative.
Most of the people who run for election, for example, have plenty of money to spend on their campaigns. At the National Seniors forum on Aged Care which I attended today, 2 out of 3 of the candidates on the panel were medical practitioners.
If you want to run as an Independent, or belong to a small political party, you have little more than Buckley's Chance of getting media coverage.
Lorikeet - 4, August, 2010 (16:38)
If everyone benefits exclusively from his/her own labour, what if they are disabled, elderly or disadvantaged in some other way?
The more intelligent and able-bodied people can work and study their way out of the poverty trap, but the opportunities are not the same for others.
I too would be interested in a societal model that is neither capitalist nor communist, especially since viewing "Mao's Last Dancer" which showed the stark contrast between peasants living a harsh life in the back blocks of China with the decadence, waste and abundance of the USA society.
Here is something else to ponder. If corporatisation of government assets and utilities keeps increasing, one day we will all be working for large corporations, not for our own country, and not for ourselves.
The government needs to collect its own taxes, fees and charges in order to pay pensions and provide infrastructure, such as roads, schools hospitals, etc.
Michael on the Gold Coast - 4, August, 2010 (15:39)
I’ve read all your posts.
You raise several good points.
You say, “One more thing, Michael. Everyone who is employed works for this country. They pay taxes which are used to provide infrastructure such as schools, hospitals, aged care centres, public transport and roads.”
If you look at this logically, you can include everyone not only people who are employed and pay taxes.
Where does the employed people’s money come from? Wages and salaries of course. Where does the money come from to pay wages and salaries? From the income earnt by an enterprise from the sale of goods or services of course? Where does the money come from to pay for the goods and services provided by an enterprise? From the pockets of all citizens who purchase goods or services of course. This pretty well includes everyone. My point is everyone who spends money is ‘working.’ It takes effort to spend money, no matter where the money comes from.
Just to reinforce the idea that spending money is work, consider the following position of employment. Most large companies have a buying department. It is the job of a ‘buyer’ to spend the companies money to puchase the goods and services the company needs to opperate. That’s what buyers do, its their job and they get a wage for doing it. Its no different to a housewife or anyone else who spends money. So we are all working for the country. :-)
You say, “It would appear that even low income earners are also contributing to Middle Class Welfare through the taxation system, which is a travesty.” I agree :-)
You say, “Those who have been to war have had to risk laying down their lives for this country. I'd call that a massive contribution to the sovereignty and well being of our nation.” I agree :-)
You say, “For every person posting a comment on a blog, there are generally hundreds more who simply read what's there for their own information.” There might be, but unless there’s a counter we don’t know for sure.
You say, “We must also give consideration to the fact that successive governments have given out far too much Middle Class Welfare, especially to the X and Y generations, instead of looking after the poor, disadvantaged, homeless and elderly.”
This is a ‘pandora’s box,’ and if you have the time and patience I’m willing to discuss this with you. We could discuss it in my home in Second Life. http://secondlife.com/
Now I will address the idea that people work for the good of the ‘the country.’
We all have choices to make every minute of the day. Usually our very first choice, every morning, at the start of the day when we awake is, “Will I get up or remain in bed?” The next thing we do is still a choice, but if ignored can become "inconvenient?” :-) Our bodily functions need to be attended to. The next choice is, “Will I shower or not?” And so it goes on throughout the day. The choices we have are only limited by our physical and mental capabilities, our economic circumstance and the law. So what it amounts to is each and everyone is doing exactly what they want to do, within the limits of their physical and mental capabilities, economic circumstance and the law. Do you agree?
In management training courses, the word decision is used in place of choice.
When a person makes a decision to do a ‘job’ that will benefit the ‘country’ they are choosing to do exactly what ‘they’ want to do. First and formost they are satisfying their own desires. The fact that what they choose to do will benefit others is secondary. Mark you I am not saying their choice will make them happy. If their choice is a feel good choice, then it will make them happy, because it will make them feel good about themselves. And so it should, because what they are doing for others is good.
I cover all these topics in my small book, “Globalism World of Plenty.” At http://www.cooperativeindividualism.org/smith-michael_on-globalism.html
Its an alternatve political/economic system to capitalism and communism. It’s a middle road system.
My maxim is “Let mankind share equally and fairly the Earth’s natural wealth and let everyone benefit exclusively from their own labour.” I think you will find it covers your circumstance admirably.
Lorikeet - 3, August, 2010 (7:53)
It would appear that even low income earners are also contributing to Middle Class Welfare through the taxation system, which is a travesty.
Those who have been to war have had to risk laying down their lives for this country. I'd call that a massive contribution to the sovereignty and well being of our nation.
The reason I use a nom de plume (false name) is because I have a son who works at the forefront of national security in his role of Senior IT Security Specialist with Dept of Defence. If he isn't working for this country, who is?
You can work for your country by contributing to political blogs, and keeping abreast of local and international issues. I can assure you that thousands of people (including myself) had Malcolm Turnbull removed from the Liberal Party leadership.
I hope you have taken the opportunity to let Tony Abbott know what you think about his flawed aged care policy. Policies of both Labor and Liberals financially empower corporations over government and people.
On election day, vote small (but not for any of the watermelon parties which are green/red).
Lorikeet - 3, August, 2010 (7:39)
For every person posting a comment on a blog, there are generally hundreds more who simply read what's there for their own information.
As I have a disability, I am not able to save for the future. Each year my financial base goes backwards.
If it were not for my disability, I would be running for election to serve THE WHOLE OF SOCIETY, not just myself.
I know quite a lot of politicians, and I can tell you they do far more work than they ever get paid for. If they are federal politicians, they also have to set themselves up in a second home/unit in Canberra.
The main problem with politics is that the people we elect are controlled by undemocratic party machines.
We must also give consideration to the fact that successive governments have given out far too much Middle Class Welfare, especially to the X and Y generations, instead of looking after the poor, disadvantaged, homeless and elderly.
I knit for the homeless and the Royal Children's Hospital here in Brisbane, and now we are all expected to feed elderly people paying exorbitant rent or women living in the streets with their children.
If you vote for the small conservative parties which have a religious base, perhaps the society could be turned around to one that has empathy, loyalty and generosity instead of greed and self-focus.
Your book sounds interesting. Perhaps you belong to the DLP? Can you please tell us exactly what the book is about?
Michael on the Gold Coast - 2, August, 2010 (6:46)
Country:
a. A nation or state.
b. The territory of a nation or state; land.
Family comes first.
Perhaps you would like to read my book :-)
Google: Globalism World of Plenty
Then I will give you my email address if you post again.
Michael
PS. Very few people read this blog, if you go by the number of entries so our conversation will not be heard by very many people :-)
It would be interesting if readers posted the comment "I read it." Then we would have a good idea just how many member readers do.
Annie - 1, August, 2010 (18:41)
As a WWII veteran, he returned and didn't get a soldier's settlers grant - he said they should be saved for those who had children; he didn't realise he'd have us.
He gave & volunteered his time while raising us - ahh! but they were the times before we became Americanized & greedy.
Michael Smith - 1, August, 2010 (12:25)
Emmi, no-one works for 'this country,' we all work for ourselves. Even the politicians get paid. And in bygone years when they didn't get paid most were in politics to further their own economic interests. Few would have had altruistic motives.
Unfortunately we are rushing headlong into an age where the none working aged citizens will outnumber the young working citizens. I know if I were young again, I would complain about having to pay half of my income in taxes to keep ‘old people’ alive and comfortable. Because that’s what it will mean. We are already up to a third of our income being ‘taken’ in taxes when you consider all the taxes we pay, both direct and indirect.
No-should have to pay personal income tax. Everyone should save for and finance their own retirement years.
Paul Craft - 1, August, 2010 (10:09)
Brett Gray - 31, July, 2010 (23:52)
If it is true that people over 50 now represent 45 percent of the voting public, this is something we should be using our numbers to achieve.
Sue - 31, July, 2010 (23:30)
Lorikeet - 31, July, 2010 (16:28)
Say whatever you want. We are supposed to be living in a democracy, aren't we?
I agree with you and so will many others.
Jannette - 30, July, 2010 (23:18)
To tell you the facts will not be appreciated by some but i will in any case. Reasons are the carers do Mickey Mouse courses of only a few weeks with very little experience and dedication and don't even learn the bare basics of care. It is all about money, money, money. Not much but as they see it why should they put in the effort when they don't get paid enough. Why should they care when the top dogs don't care to train, supervise or police the standards. Who care if a residents can't speak for themselves when few family members really care either. We live in a very selfish society where very few care.
Lorikeet - 30, July, 2010 (21:10)
The aged care centre where my mother resides employed a Clinical Nurse in High Care who was a visa holder from Scotland.
She tried various treatments prescribed by the doctor on a particularly nasty lesion, but nothing worked! So she went home and got something out of the pantry and tried that, it worked! I'm wondering if it might have been Boracic Acid which would certainly have dried it up.
We had this wonderful Clinical Nurse, but the service provider gave her 2 nervous breakdowns with their rationing of both staff and consumables. She and her husband quickly returned to their homeland, where they didn't have to put up with fourth world working conditions and pay.
Kevin White:
Are you aware that Kevin Rudd decided that the residents with money invested had to pay more? The amount is calculated by the Department of Health and Ageing. Despite a pension increase and this additional amount, aged care providers have simply pocketed the money for themselves!
Kevin White - 30, July, 2010 (17:38)
Seniors need to bare their teeth (we are now a very strong force in terms of our voting power). Vote for the party which offers the most for Seniors (not just pensioners). Look especially at offers to increase funding for Residential Aged Care. Until just a few years ago I was a private operator of an aged care facility and we saw first hand how the funding was whittled away whilst the Department of Health and Ageing continually clamped down on supervision requirements and documentation. Over the past 15 years the amount of supervision and documentation has at least doubled while funding has been reduced in real terms. The overall outcome of this is that there is less money for staff on the floor and an increased demand for senior staff to oversee and document. All from a diminished pot of money. Oh, by the way, owners are tightly controlled when it comes to charging the resident. If Federal funding is involved then there is no possibility of charging the resident more (even if they are willing and able to pay). It will not be long when we will find a new type of Aged Care Facility which is completely privately funded so that those who can afford to pay will be able to get proper care.
FINALLY - USE YOUR POWER. CONTACT YOUR LOCAL MEMBER AND GET HIM/HER TO SUPPORT OUR DEMANDS!
Peta Newman - 30, July, 2010 (17:05)
Ken Rehbein - 30, July, 2010 (16:27)
Carol Champion - 30, July, 2010 (14:30)
Peter McDonald - 30, July, 2010 (13:05)
George Osmond - 30, July, 2010 (11:07)
sharyn - 30, July, 2010 (9:47)
Sue - 30, July, 2010 (8:14)
Whilst some of the staff were caring others treated the old folk with disrespect.
That experience has put me totally off either wanting to be employed by such an instution and I only hope my family will not send me to a resting paddock in my twighlight years!
Provide more community care and finincial assistance so us 'baby boomers' so we can remain independant and in our own homes surrounded by family and friends.
Ron Tyas - 30, July, 2010 (2:27)
I have chosen to care for her at home as long as possible and the ACAT Assessment also provides entitlement to access the Extended Aged Care at Home (EACH)Package. I have applied with a number of providers for the package but have been told by all that there is a waiting list. I understand there are thirty in the area on the waiting list for packages and only one package has become available in the last twelve months. Don't think we will make it at this rate - not likely to be around for 30 years!!
How does the Government expect to keep people out of nursing homes if they don't provide the resources we are entitled to? What is the use of telling us we are entitled to the package?
We didn't create the entitlement, THEY DID!
claudette(Gold Coast) - 29, July, 2010 (22:00)
If our Reprsentatives don't go in to bat for us, lets ALL decend! on Canberra
Jennifer - 29, July, 2010 (21:33)
Marti Sarlin - 29, July, 2010 (21:13)
Lorikeet - 29, July, 2010 (21:06)
Never think that the government does not adequately fund Aged Care. Service providers rip off the money, hurting both residents and staff.
A service provider on TV said he wanted a bond placed on High Care, and a chunk of people's superannuation contributions. He wanted people contributing to an Old Age Fund, which will put further pressure on families already stressed by taxation, housing, food, utilities etc.
The policy of the Australian Democrats on Aged Care said "it was not profitable enough". Aged Care is supposed to be NOT FOR PROFIT.
They want the churches taxed on all "commercial operations". The church sector generally asks for a lower bond than operations secretly owned by The Macquarie Group.
Church profits also go to humanitarian endeavours, not to a bank!
Such ideas would see The Macquarie Group completely controlling aged care.
It is my belief that Kevin Rudd brought in visa holders to do the work, instead of giving aged care staff equal pay with hospital workers. Visa holders are very reluctant to join unions for fear of losing their opportunity of permanent residency.
I have encountered nurses who have had to work without gloves due to rationing, a clear breach of the Aged Care Act 1997.
We can write to the Minister for Health and Ageing (also the Shadow Minister) and ask for equal pay for aged care workers, and insist on a quota system which dictates how many people they must employ.
At the coalface, we can encourage staff to stick up for their rights. We can encourage them to form a lobby group and hammer on the Manager's door whenever consumables run out.
We can write to our MPs and seek help from Senators. If Tony Zegenhagen from the DLP gets into the Senate, I know he will help us.
The DLP is opposed to large corporations dominating the market.
William Lim - 29, July, 2010 (19:40)
Rob Spencer - 29, July, 2010 (19:24)
Darryl - 29, July, 2010 (18:51)
Clem J Collier - 29, July, 2010 (18:24)
IN VERY LARGE LETTERS
"I MIGHT BE A SENIOR CITIZEN BUT I STILL VOTE"
Get them published in all papers & put up near Pollies ofice`s.
Emmi - 29, July, 2010 (18:13)
Ian McJannett - 29, July, 2010 (18:05)
Penny Temple - 29, July, 2010 (17:37)
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