Royal Commission - Page 2 of 5 - Reviewing the quality of aged care

Royal Commission

On 16 September 2018, the Australian Government announced a Royal Commission into the aged care sector. The Royal Commission is looking at the quality of residential and in-home aged care and will provide a final report by 26 February 2021.

“The canaries in the coal mine”, complaints systems set for a massive overhaul, 124 proposed recommendations to Royal Commission

By Lauren Todorovic

A common theme throughout the final submission report and subsequent recommendations, outlined the inadequacies when monitoring, managing and resolving complaints by providers, as well as the efficacy of the complaints commissioner function itself. Complaints were described as ‘the canaries in the coal mine’, by Professor Ron Paterson who gave evidence at the hearing last year. Read More

“Inhumane” home care delays burdening the aged care system: royal commission

By Caroline Egan

Australia should be prioritising home care services rather than residential aged care, the royal commission heard on Monday. Yet more than 100,000 Australians are still waiting to receive the level of care they have been assessed as needing, and the regulator has decreased the number of provider inspections, despite the steady increase in the number... Read More

Aged care minister left red faced during government inquiry

By Caroline Egan

The Minister for Aged care was left fumbling for answers during an excruciating exchange at the senate inquiry into the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic today. Minister Richard Colbeck was unable to answer questions at Friday’s Senate Committee hearing about how many aged care residents had died from COVID-19 in Victoria. Read More

“$50,000 should not translate to just nine hours of care,” Royal Commission hears

By Caroline Egan

Home care was under the Royal Commission’s spotlight on Monday, as the second set of hearings began. Raelene Ellis, a lawyer from Caloundra, Queensland, told the commission about her experience caring for her mother, Therese Ellis, who is living with dementia. Her mother was assessed as needing a level 3-4 package, and eventually did receive the... Read More

“Immediate action” required in four areas to address COVID in aged care: royal commission

By HelloCare Editorial Team

The royal commission special report makes six recommendations, among them, a requirement that the Australian Government report to the Australian Parliament no later than 1 December 2020 on the progress of their implementation. The report identifies four areas for immediate action to support the aged care sector. Read More

“Broken” home care system leaving older Australians abandoned and confused

By Caroline Egan

Many older Australians are falling through the cracks when it comes to home care as they struggle to use an ill-conceived system and are simply unaware of the options available to them. New research from the Consumer Policy Research Centre undertaken in partnership with the University of South Australia has found that complexity and a... Read More

“Unless somebody dies” you won’t get respite care, royal commission hears

By Caroline Egan

The royal commission has been hearing this week about the struggles that carers face looking after their loved ones at home. Carers revealed they face social isolation, financial hardship, difficulty accessing respite care, and a lack of support in general. Yet some said it was still a role they were happy to perform. “What was... Read More

“Our story’s a sad story, but it’s also a good story” royal commission hears

By Caroline Egan

The royal commission heard about the benefits of ‘multipurpose service’ providers in small country towns on Wednesday, and examined proposals for several ways to improve the delivery of aged care services in rural and remote areas. Peter Harris, whose wife Beth is living with young onset dementia, told the commission the multi-purpose service (MPS)... Read More

“My number one goal is to get the f*#@ out of the nursing home”

By Caroline Egan

The royal commission is hearing this week from younger Australians living in residential aged care. Lisa Corcoran, who spoke with the help of a speech pathologist, made her feelings clear. “My number one goal is to get the fuck out of the nursing home,” she said during the first day of hearings. Ms Corcoran... Read More

“This cruel and harmful system must be changed”: interim report

By Caroline Egan

The royal commission’s interim report provides a damning appraisal of Australia’s aged care sector and calls for a complete overhaul of the system. Describing ageist attitudes, cruelty, neglect, poor leadership, confusing systems, fragmented services, and an absence of joy, the interim report, which is titled ‘Neglect’, reflects the thinking of the commissioners of the... Read More

Aged care failures show how little we value older people – and those who care for them

By HelloCare Editorial Team

As the royal commission begins investigating the failures of the residential aged care sector, it is important such a review also considers the broader socio-political factors that have contributed to this crisis. The commission needs to go beyond the institutional problems at individual aged care facilities, as these are a symptom of a much broader... Read More

Chemical restraint destroyed my father’s quality of life

By Catherine Loth

My 81 year old, moderately dementia-affected father was admitted as an in-patient in a private hospital in Queensland on 13 June 2018. I am his Enduring Power of Attorney. He does not have capacity having mixed dementia – vascular dementia and Alzheimers. On his very first night in hospital, without my knowledge or consent, his treating... Read More

Assaults, loopholes, and bad smells: This week at the Royal Commission

By Caroline Egan

The main points to come out of the Aged Care Royal Commission this week: There were more than 3,700 assaults in Australian nursing homes in 2017-18. Some aged care providers are manipulating the government funding scheme. The aged care sector will need to triple its workforce by 2050. A South Australian man has been waiting... Read More

The latest

“The canaries in the coal mine”, complaints systems set for a massive overhaul, 124 proposed recommendations to Royal Commission

By Lauren Todorovic

November 02, 2020

“The canaries in the coal mine”, complaints systems set for a massive overhaul, 124 proposed recommendations to Royal Commission

By Lauren Todorovic

November 02, 2020

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“The canaries in the coal mine”, complaints systems set for a massive overhaul, 124 proposed recommendations to Royal Commission

“Inhumane” home care delays burdening the aged care system: royal commission

Aged care minister left red faced during government inquiry

“$50,000 should not translate to just nine hours of care,” Royal Commission hears

“Immediate action” required in four areas to address COVID in aged care: royal commission

“Broken” home care system leaving older Australians abandoned and confused

“Unless somebody dies” you won’t get respite care, royal commission hears

“Our story’s a sad story, but it’s also a good story” royal commission hears

“My number one goal is to get the f*#@ out of the nursing home”

“This cruel and harmful system must be changed”: interim report

Aged care failures show how little we value older people – and those who care for them

Chemical restraint destroyed my father’s quality of life

Assaults, loopholes, and bad smells: This week at the Royal Commission

The latest

“The canaries in the coal mine”, complaints systems set for a massive overhaul, 124 proposed recommendations to Royal Commission

“The canaries in the coal mine”, complaints systems set for a massive overhaul, 124 proposed recommendations to Royal Commission

Proposed laws will show how money is spent in aged care

Proposed laws will show how money is spent in aged care

Six out of 10 aged care workers face unfilled shifts every day

Six out of 10 aged care workers face unfilled shifts every day

Two sexual assaults in aged care every week: a ‘national shame’ royal commission hears

Two sexual assaults in aged care every week: a ‘national shame’ royal commission hears

If we have the guts to give older people a fair go, this is how we fix aged care in Australia

If we have the guts to give older people a fair go, this is how we fix aged care in Australia

Despite more than 30 major inquiries, governments still haven’t fixed aged care. Why are they getting away with it?

Despite more than 30 major inquiries, governments still haven’t fixed aged care. Why are they getting away with it?

The aged care royal commission’s COVID-19 report is superficial, misleading and unhelpful

The aged care royal commission’s COVID-19 report is superficial, misleading and unhelpful

Could superannuation-like health savings accounts fund our future aged care system?

Could superannuation-like health savings accounts fund our future aged care system?

Aged-care facilities need accredited infection control experts. Who are they, and what will they do?

Aged-care facilities need accredited infection control experts. Who are they, and what will they do?

Older Australians deserve more than the aged care royal commission’s COVID-19 report delivers

Older Australians deserve more than the aged care royal commission’s COVID-19 report delivers