What would you like to see examined by the recently announced Royal Commission into aged care? Is there a particular aspect of aged care that you believe needs attention? Or do you have a story to tell?
If you would like to have some input into what the Royal Commission will investigate, the government wants to hear from you.
But be quick – time is tight. Input into the Terms of Reference will only be accepted until the 25th of September. We dearly hope the community has enough time to respond to ensure that all aspects of the aged care industry that need to be examined are included in the Terms of Reference.
Members of the public will have another opportunity to tell their story once the Royal Commission gets underway.
Submissions can be made via this link on the Department of Health’s website.
Alternatively, members of the public can write to Minister Hunt (Minister.Hunt@health.gov.au) or Minister Wyatt (Minister.Wyatt@health.gov.au).
The Royal Commission is expected to cover:
The final terms of reference will be determined in consultation with the community, including residents and their families, aged care providers, doctors, advocates, aged care staff, and health care professionals.
A statement from Minster Wyatt and Minister Hunt says, “We acknowledge the reporting and concerns raised by the public which has informed the Ministers views to proceed with a Royal Commission.
“Incidences of older people being hurt by failures of care simply cannot be explained or excused. We must be assured about how widespread these cases are.
“As a community we expect high standards for the quality and safety of aged care services and we share these expectations.
“This Royal Commission will be about proactively determining what we need to do in the future to ensure these expectations can be met.”
If you have immediate concerns, you can contact the Aged Care Complaints Commissioner on 1800 550 552 (9am–5pm, Monday to Friday) or you can lodge a complaint online.
The issue of adequate staffing ratios must remain centre stage.
Adequate training in aged care and dementia care for all staff.
Adequate funding for leisure and lifestyle activities – psycho-social well-being is equally as important as clinical care. Purposeful and meaningful engagement can minimise behaviours and reduce the use of medications as a management mechanism. Residents, staff, families and the facility would be better served if the current practice of providing ACFI funding on the basis of a person’s failings were replaced with a system that considered the person’s remaining strengths and funded programs to enhance these, thus contributing to well-being and improved quality of life.
Aged care staff need special training on how to handle the aged and frail folk. How to gently lift them – dress them – bathe them and feed them. Be aware if a resident cannot lift their arms up to get dressed or undressed – be aware if they have hip or shoulder replacements, pulling them up by their hands could dislocate the shoulder or at best be very painful. Putting on or taking off clothes can be painful for some – treat them gently. Be aware of their medical issues, it will help you understand them better. In other words treat them as you would like to be treated yourself and most of all give them the respect they deserve.
Environmental constraints that impact on lifestyle choices, privacy and dignity. Size and availability of bathrooms in some High care needs areas. Environmental constraints impacting on the provision of Palliative care in an appropriate manner.
Availability of medical support in rural areas.
So pleased that this royal commission is investigating our aged care .My husband has advanced Dementia and I regretted placing him into a facility very close to where we live. He was in this facility for 5 months and I am still traumatised from what I saw and experienced with what was done to him and other residents.
A decision was made to bring him home with daily help and he is much healthier and certainly very happy to be in a homely loving environment with stimulating activities and not to forget to mention edible and nourishing food. The attitude of staff to residents with Dementia is appalling, oh they cannot remember so no one can report or tell on us!!!! So sad and so bad to treat these people with such contempt, very little compassion and the staff appear to be so short of time. There appeared to be no one assuring that a standard of loving care be upheld. Guinea pigs eat better!, they get fresh salad and fruit and water?
My husband was over medicated to my horror!! To keep him from wandering!! To sit in front of the TV all day. His clo thes were wrecked and shrunken by the laundry, they didn’t care. I had to insist he be showered every day, then I took it upon myself to go every morning to attend to this. Very bad and such a sad way to treat our loved ones. I could go on and on.
My name is Simone I was abused back in 2007 though the evidence was destroyed I want to tell my story so I can help others to find theirs
Hello Simone,
We are really sad to hear that you were abused. Please do your best to make a submission and get justice