AUSTRALIA: Aged Entitled to Real Care

BRISBANE (Courier-Mail), May 29, 2007: Governments correctly recognise the very young as a policy priority in terms of early education, child care and family rebates. Children are, of course, among the most vulnerable of any society and deserving of dedicated funding. But it seems governments often overlook an equally vulnerable group at the other end of the demographic spectrum – the aged, says a report in the Courier-Mail today. It seems that, when it comes to shunting our elderly into care facilities, out of sight really is out of mind. It recalls with a shudder the shocking case uncovered in early 2000 when some Melbourne residents received kerosene baths as treatment for scabies. Unfortunately, abuse of the elderly continues unabated in terms of not only physical and sexual abuse but also financial abuse. One report says about $30 million is swindled from the elderly each year. And, as we learn that nearly half of all aged care facilities failed in a recent audit to meet accreditation standards, we now hear how residents at one Brisbane facility have been fed frozen food. It is simply not good enough. Much blame for increasing elderly neglect can be sheeted home to the Howard Government that, after 11 years, is still yet to get right its aged care policy. To its credit, the Government released as part of its 2002-03 Budget Papers a much lauded "Intergenerational Report". It noted that, over the next 40 years, those aged 65 and over will double in number to total one in four Australians. Australia is a rapidly ageing nation and soon the elderly – in consuming ever-increasing public resources – must move from the sidelines of government thinking to the policy centre. But the Federal Government appears to have lost this priority. While insufficient aged care staff is undoubtedly a critical issue, peak bodies representing providers are in no doubt where the real problem lies: in inadequate federal funding – only $200 million over the past four years. Industry leaders instead call for an annual increase of $250 million. It seems there is no shortage of regulations governing the management of aged care facilities; the problem instead appears to be one of a lack of government resources for the policing of those regulations. At a time when government coffers overflow with revenue, parsimony towards the aged is inexcusable. Before his resignation, federal minister for ageing Santo Santoro gave an address entitled "Looking Beyond the Horizon", in which he claimed the Howard Government planned for aged care well into the future. It is a shame that government action has not matched its rhetoric. If funding is not increased we can only expect elderly abuse to increase. English politician and writer Horace Walpole said in the 18th century that "old age is no such uncomfortable thing if one gives oneself up to it with good grace". To hope to grow old gracefully is one thing, but to be afforded the opportunity via proper government responsibility is quite another. © Queensland Newspapers.