ACSA Level One, 36 Albert Road, South Melbourne, Victoria 3205 Tel: (03) 9686 3460
Media Release
November 11, 200
Care missing from Government’s aged care agenda
Delays in aged care assessments reported in Adelaide are another example of the enduring concerns
confronting elderly Australians and service providers, according to Aged and Community Services
Australia (ACSA).
ACSA CEO Greg Mundy said the plight of the elderly in need of care and support was starting to hit home
as it becomes increasingly apparent that services cannot keep up with demand.
“The media’s focus on aged care issues in South Australia, and recently in Western Australia, is very
welcome and long overdue,” Mr Mundy said. “Insufficient appropriate accommodation when and where
people need it, falls in community care hours, lower rates of pay for aged care workers, and delays in
assessment are all part of the same problem – an aged care system struggling to survive because of
inadequate funding linked to an onerous regulatory system.
“Our sector has long been campaigning for reform and now with the release of the National Health and
Hospitals’ Reform Commission recommendations there is some hope in sight. Indeed our conversations
with the Minister and other members of Government have been very positive.
“But more needs to be done today to relieve the current crisis, to say nothing of planning for a future
where elderly Australians are set to comprise a quarter of the population. The Minister for Ageing, Justine
Elliot, makes constant reference to the Government’s record levels of funding without acknowledging
Australia has record numbers of older people.”
Aged and Community Services SA &NT CEO Alan Graham said it was distressing to hear of elderly
people waiting for prolonged periods just to be assessed.
“Delays assessing people in urgent need of care has widespread repercussions,” he said. “Not the least
of which is the distress it causes elderly people and their families. This is in turn has a detrimental impact
on their well being. Without proper assessment many elderly people are confined to hospital beds when
they should be receiving care in a more appropriate environment.”
Mr Graham said the complexities involved in accessing aged care added to an already difficult situation.
“Getting old is part of life and for some of us, many of us, residential care will be necessary. It is another
part of our lives, another place we will call home. We plan for each phase of our lives and getting older
isn’t any different, until we realise there maybe nowhere for us to live.”
Mr Mundy and Mr Graham said widespread community recognition and support for aged care issues was
critical. “Without it, the future will be very bleak indeed.”
Media contact: Chris Hornsey 0419 513 432
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