AUSTRALIA: Sparks fly over care for the aged

. SYDNEY, NSW / The Australian / April 6, 2009 By Patricia Karvelas, Political correspondent AGED-CARE providers are at war with Minister for Ageing Justine Elliot, with one prominent provider accusing her of "lying in the grass waiting to publicly execute a care provider as soon as they step a weary foot sideways". The aged-care sector is angry with Ms Elliot for deciding to "name and shame" them after the federal Government raised the stakes on substandard operators in the aged-care sector after pressure from consumer groups. From July, it will publish a list of all aged-care centres that have received a notice of non-compliance in the previous year or are the subject of one. Under present arrangements, centres issued a notice of non-compliance may continue to operate and are not required to disclose they have been warned. In the latest publication of aged-care journal Insight, Feros Care chief executive Jennene Buckley attacks Ms Elliot. Feros Care operates aged-care centres in NSW and Queensland. "The website appears to be another tool the minister's office has created to demoralise the hardworking, inspirational and committed people who work in aged care," Ms Buckley says. "There is too much regulation, not nearly enough resources to meet each new regulatory requirement that is thrown our way, and now we have the concern of a minister who is lying in the grass waiting to publicly execute a provider as soon as they step a weary foot sideways." Queensland's Sundale Garden Village chief executive Glenn Bunney asks: "Does the minister ever tire of beating up the industry in Australia ... Does she measure her success in her role by the number of failed aged-care facilities per annum, and the lack of confidence in the Australian system? Surely there must be some motivating factor behind the real policy vacuum under her stewardship." But Ms Elliot said she would not stop publishing incriminating data about them and was confident the aged-care sector would see the merit of publication of quality data. "I recognise that there is some hesitation, but this is about helping Australian families gain more access to information on the quality and compliance of Australia's 2830 aged-care homes," she said. "Let's work together to improve the care and quality in Australia's nursing home and hostel sector. We already have a world-class and world-leading sector, but there is always scope for improvement," she said. She has the support of National Seniors boss Michael O'Neil, who said it was crucial this information was provided. Ms Elliot said choosing an aged-care home could be very difficult and families deserved this information, especially when they were making one of the toughest decisions of their lives. "I completely reject claims that this is name and shame; this is about transparency, openness and information for families," she said. The Government has conducted almost 4200 unannounced visits to nursing homes and hostels since July 1: 2949 by the independent Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency and 1238 by the Department of Health and Ageing. "This is about ensuring proper care, including nutrition and hydration, in Australia's nursing homes and hostels," Ms Elliot said. Copyright 2009 News Limited Click to read "Justine Elliot's earlier press statement: Australian Government Supporting Carers and their Special Needs: $38 Million"