Aged Care Crisis
for consumers, by consumers
Prior to 1997 nursing homes were required to disclose how they had spent the money given to them by taxpayers. They complained bitterly about this claiming that it was too "onerous" and "inflexible". They claimed it limited innovation and creativity. The Aged Care Act 1997 abolished all economic accountability.
Crikey’s business editor Paddy Manning recently published aged care industry data which show that the industry is boosting profits by replacing registered and enrolled nurses with personal care workers.
The Australian Government has a problem. Its aged care regulator, the Aged Care Quality Agency has given 95% of nursing homes a perfect score in meeting quality standards. This means 95% of nursing homes are assessed as providing safe care.
Psychotropic drugs are being over-used in Australian aged-care facilities to chemically restrain residents, according to both researchers and several government reports. But despite all this attention, little is being done to reduce their use.
Reviews by specially-trained pharmacists of the medication taken by elderly people have been funded by the federal government for over 15 years now. But a secret deal followed by a sudden announcement by the Pharmacy Guild means the service will now be limited.
Prior to 1997, owners and providers of nursing homes were vetted under probity requirements to be sure that their past conduct showed that they were good citizens and could be trusted to care properly for vulnerable people. Citizens with knowledge of bad behavior by an applicant could supply it to the departmental vetting body, and object to the issuing of a license to operate.
