Aged Care Crisis
for consumers, by consumers
WHEN temperatures were forecast to exceed 40 degrees Celsius at the beginning of the year in 2013, the Hunter Valley Zoo took action to protect its animals, making sure all were housed in air conditioned buildings prior to the onset of the heatwave.
Aged Care Crisis wrote to the Minister questioning the astonishing revelations of NO staff rostered to look after residents in a Queensland nursing home.
Last night ABC’s Lateline discussed the case of 63-year-old John Burns, who died within 12 days of going into residential aged care. Burns was put into care after he started to display disinhibited sexual behaviour, and was prescribed anti-psychotics soon after.
Source: The Global Mail, Joel Tozer, Sharona Coutts, February 23, 2012
An email exchange started with a questionable joke, but it led to concerns over the independence of some aged-care advocates.
The government admits aged-care costs have ballooned by nearly $2 billion, but has kept quiet on the real reasons why — and there is evidence that some nursing-home operators are ripping off the system.
Lynda Saltarelli is fighting for the human rights of older Australians in nursing homes. Her account, backed up by studies, shows that most families are ill-equipped when it comes to aged-care issues and mistreatment can easily occur - and regrettably often happens. Saltarelli outlines specific reforms that should be embraced in Australia. She argues that vulnerable older persons often lack capacity to act in their own best interest. Therefore, she says governments must erect 'solid perimeters' around the nursing care system.
