THE public should be prepared for more shocking and appalling cases of neglect and mistreatment from the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, Calare MP Andrew Gee says.
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The Royal Commission was announced this week by Prime Minister Scott Morrison and it will look at the quality of care provided in residential and home aged care to senior Australians.
It will also include young Australians with disabilities living in residential aged care settings.
Mr Gee said he was shocked by recent cases of “appalling” treatment of seniors in aged care facilities and that the public should welcome the in-depth assessment of the sector.
“Unfortunately, we’ve had some quite appalling examples that have been publicised in recent times of some of the things that have gone on,” he said.
We need to shine a light on those practices because I think the community needs to be assured that our seniors are getting the standard of care that they deserve.
- Calare MP Andrew Gee
“They have shocked a lot of people, I know I was shocked when I saw them.
“We need to shine a light on those practices because I think the community needs to be assured that our seniors are getting the standard of care that they deserve.”
Mr Gee said he expected more “shocking stories” would be told during the Royal Commission’s investigation.
“Those are going to be difficult stories to see and hear, but at the end of the day we just want to make sure everyone’s getting the standard of care that they deserve,” he said.
“No-one likes to think that this is happening … [but] we can’t have older people being hurt by failures of care and I think this Royal Commission will shine a spotlight on it and it’ll hopefully make the sector better because the sector’s only going to get bigger. There are going to be more people going into care.”
For people in the Calare electorate, Mr Gee urged them not to worry.
“I don’t think people in the Calare electorate should be concerned because in this part of the world, the providers and those working in aged care, I think they do wonderful work and I don’t think they get the recognition they deserve and I think they are some of the most dedicated professionals that you’re ever likely to meet,” he said.
“The majority of providers and those working in aged care do wonderful work, including in our area, and they don’t get the recognition that they deserve.”
The Federal Government is seeking the public’s feedback to develop the detailed Terms of Reference of the Royal Commission.
Comments are open to members of the community, including residents and their families and aged care providers and aged care workers. Consultation is open until Tuesday, September 25.
It is anticipated the Royal Commission will cover:
- The quality of care provided to older Australians, and the extent of substandard care;
- The challenge of providing care to Australians with disabilities living in residential aged care, particularly younger people with disabilities;
- The challenge of supporting the increasing number of Australians suffering dementia and addressing their care needs as they age;
- The future challenges and opportunities for delivering aged care services in the context of changing demographics, including in remote, rural and regional Australia;
- And other matters that the Royal Commission considers necessary.
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