The seven major organisations issued a joint statement yesterday, denying Friday’s allegation by Prime Minister Scott Morrison that aged care residents are being ‘locked away’ from their families and calling out the Government for failing to provide the funding needed to meet extra demands for operators during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The groups – Aged and Community Services Australia, the Aged Care Guild, Anglicare, Baptist Care Australia, Catholic Health, Leading Age Services Australia and UnitingCare Australia – said they want to “maintain an open and respectful dialogue with the government that acknowledges the difficulties we face”.
However, they argued there has been little additional support from Government to achieve this.
“The funding provided that equates to an average of $2 per resident per day is not enough for aged care operators to keep winning the fight to keep coronavirus out of aged care homes,” they state.
“$2 a day per resident does not cover all the additional requirements such as PPE, cleaning and sanitation, backfilling staff who have to isolate, technology and social distancing measures.”
Restrictions on restrictions not agreed – tense webinar
The group also said the decision to restrict visitors was not made lightly by operators and has the support of the majority of residents and their families.
The statement follows a national webinar set up by the sector between around 850 providers with the Aged Care Minister, Senator Ricard and the Chief Medical Officer, Professor Brendan Murphy, on Friday following the Prime Minister’s comments after the National Cabinet meeting.
The group thanked the Minister and CMO for taking part, but added:
“However, we impressed upon them that it is incorrect to characterise the sector as having kept residents isolated, under lock and key, in their rooms. Nor are they secret places.”
The group wants:
- “A revised statement from the Government regarding enhanced resident protections that confirms that in some cases additional restrictions beyond AHPPC guidance are necessary for public health and resident safety.”
- “A process for the rapid escalation and resolution of case-by-case issues reported by families, residents or advocates, plus a process of guidance sharing for providers on leading practice.”
- “A timely response to the Aged Care Rescue Package put to the government several weeks ago to meet the increased costs of keeping vulnerable older Australians safe from coronavirus.”
Minister Colbeck responds
However, the Aged Care Minister, Senator Richard Colbeck, has reconfirmed his view that providers should accept the current recommendations.
“The pushback against the Prime Minister’s recommendations on visitation access for residential care facilities is misguided,” he said on Sunday.
“It is just not conscionable that some senior Australians may never have personal contact with their loved ones again.
“The attempt by the sector to quote surveys of families who say they support the total shutdown does not change the advice of the AHPPC, which also takes into account the wider needs of residents, particularly those with dementia or in the end-of-life phase.”
But what do providers themselves think of the PM’s demands?
