The  2008-2009 Report on the Aged Care Act 1997 tabled in Parliament last week shows that frail older Australians have been let down yet again. Promises by the Rudd Government to provide greater protection for some of the most vulnerable Australians have come to little.

Furthermore, in spite of the rhetoric about increased transparency and accountability in all spheres of government, useful information, on which public policy and democratic debate should be based, is not fully available to public scrutiny.

Report facts:

• Notices of non-compliances issued by the Department of Health and Ageing (DOHA) – more than double from the previous year
• Non compliant homes – up by over 52% from the previous year
• Sanctioned nursing homes – more than double from the previous year
• Complaints – up by over 6%
• Breaches of Approved Provider’s responsibilities under the Aged Care Act 1997 – up by 17%
• Notification of alleged reportable assaults - up by 52%
• Reportable assaults: Unlawful sexual assault - up by 36%

Aged-care consumers left in the dark

Most people would be shocked to know that it is still possible for approved providers to breach their responsibilities under the Aged Care Act, to have serious complaints substantiated against their facility, AND yet avoid any public scrutiny. 

There were over 1,000 breaches of provider’s responsibilities recorded for 2008-2009 – an increase of over 17 percent from the previous year. Yet, an intending resident has no way of finding out which homes attracted those breaches, or the nature of the breaches. 

Community members seeking residential aged care are unable to discover the total number, or the nature of breaches found by DOHA, OR the number and nature of complaints by the Complaints Investigation Scheme (CIS), for any particular aged care facility in Australia.

Informed choice:  mission impossible?

Aged Care Crisis asks how families can make informed decisions when choosing residential care and draws attention to the fact that during the past year, over 12,500 people have contacted the Complaints Investigation Scheme. The associated stress to families is immense.  Avoidable and tragic deaths, trauma, neglectful health care and worse underpin many of these complaints.

The public has the right to know why there is such a steep increase in complaints, non-compliances, sanctions and breaches.

Furthermore, the  Aged Care Commissioner's Annual Report 2008-2009, reveals an overemphasis on the documentation provided by aged-care providers and the scarce attention to evidence offered by consumers in complaint inquiries.

Minister must act

Aged Care Crisis asks that the Minister address the reasons for these increases as a matter of some urgency. She has a duty to inform the stakeholders – including, and most importantly, the residents, intending residents and their families - as to why these poor outcomes have occurred and what she proposes to remedy the situation. So far it can fairly be said, the Minister’s 2009 Report fails any reasonable examination and our most vulnerable residents have been let down yet again.

Contact: Aged Care Crisis