AUSTRALIA: Voucher System Puts Elderly At Risk of Abuse

BRISBANE (The Sunday Courier-Mail Queensland), September 24, 2006: A voucher system for aged care could put elderly people at risk of being abused or ripped off, advocates have warned. Federal Ageing Minister Santo Santoro this week announced a review of community care programs for the elderly and backed a US approach of giving people cash or vouchers to employ their own carers. Family members – as well as charitable, non-profit and commercial operators – could be paid to look after elderly relatives. Margaret Arthur, a lawyer with the Seniors Advocacy Information and Legal Service, said she had discussed the idea with other groups set up to protect the rights of older people. "The feeling is there may be benefits to the system because people may feel more comfortable having family members perform services for them," she said. "But there is also the potential for abuse in terms of elderly people's needs being neglected by relatives. "The major concern is whether there will be sufficient monitoring." A voucher system could see tens of thousands of family members being paid to care for their parents or other relatives at home. Council on the Ageing Queensland executive director Mark Tucker-Evans said the review of aged care was "a positive move overall". "There are positives but there are things we would be cautious about." By Daryl Passmore © Queensland Newspapers.