The ABC's Lateline program this week ran a 20 minute editorial piece on the 'deplorable' state of the aged care sector. They concentrated on uncaring staff, unresponsive management and lack of meaningful consumer complaint process. Two shocking case studies were presented plus another 15 cited that they had investigated. There was no balancing comment from the operators or the sector. See the segment HERE?
The thrust of Lateline (and the families interviewed) was a need to review the accreditation system: how was this abuse allowed to occur and why are the facilities still operating?
Each case study reviewed long term abuse. What we did not understand and what was not asked by Lateline of each of family is why didn't they just take their mothers out of the facilities and take them to another. (For instance one family recorded three years of daily abuse).
This is supposed to be the core of giving consumers 'choice' - the future direction of aged care. Or does family responsibility end when Mum or Dad pass through the doors of a care facility?
The sector knows only too well the consequences of non compliance or investigations. It also understands the cost of vacant beds.
The next night ACSA CEO John Kelly appeared on the program in a 10 minute interview. He faced the issues, very calmly and very balanced. He explained funding challenges and gave excellent examples of staff ratios that restrict close resident monitoring. He deplored abuse. See his interview HERE.
Watching John was hard. He wanted to put a blunt message back to Lateline (and the Government) but he had to be politically correct. A tough job.
What is required is an advocate for the sector that is free to explain to the public (and media) the real situation. Our summary is that:
Aged care is a complex business
It is an essential service
It is expensive
It costs 30% more than it should because of over worked compliance regimes
It is labour intensive
It is physically and emotionally challenging
It is a 24/7 business and responsibility
To have a quality system requires money. So cut the red tape and restore efficiency. This will get the sector back to a viable position in the short term. Then educate the public that we all have to take on our own responsibility for the quality of our aged care that we demand.
There are many, many other sectors to work in rather than aged care, and all pay better. The reality is that most families appreciate the real quality of care given to their Mums and Dads. Lateline, and Government, should be working with the sector, not against it.
