Is aged care failing Aussies?
April 11, 2012
AGED care is not meeting the
needs of dementia sufferers and
their families, according to the
Minister for Mental Health and
Ageing, Mark Butler.
Butler’s comments come in
response to the release of a
sobering Alzheimer’s Australia
report compiled from feedback
received from older Australians,
their families and carers.
The feedback was part of a series
of conversations on aged care in
Australia, which involved 16
consultations involving more than
1,000 participants.
According to the report, one of
the strongest messages coming
from the conversations was that
older Australians want to stay at
home in their local community for
as long as possible, and preferably
until their death.
“For many older Australians
‘dementia specific care’ is matched
by the reality of locked wards,” said
Butler.
“Many families gave examples
where the health of their loved
ones suddenly declined after
entering residential aged care,” he
added, saying that the current
system does not provide adequate
support and assistance to enable
people to remain at home.
“Community care packages on
offer are inadequate and
inflexible,” he said.
Interestingly, Butler also
highlighted the fact that older
Aussies and their families want staff
appropriately trained in all aspects
of dementia, and paid accordingly.
Whilst participants at the
conversations called for more focus
on mental wellbeing, with some
drawing links between keeping
mentally stimulated and connected
and mental health issues later in
life.
“As Australians, we enjoy one of
the longest life expectancies in the
world but we need to make sure
that those extra years are years of
quality,” said Butler.
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