'War of the Worlds' hits aged care

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Around Australia, there are hundreds of aged care facilities. Many are doing more or less as it suits them, slashing costs and cutting corners. It's rare that properly-certified registered nurses are mandatory. Staff are often not qualified to do the job needed. Many struggle with English, are poorly-paid and usually rushing to plug the gaps in the system. In sum, we are looking at a national disgrace. Michelle Grattan quoted Joseph Ibrahim:

This is the worst disaster that is still unfolding before my eyes and it's the worst in my entire career. There's a level of apathy, a lack of urgency. There's an attitude of futility which leads to an absence of action. When I voiced my concerns, I have had comments saying that everything is under control, that I'm simply overreacting and causing panic .

In the same article, Diana Asmar, secretary of the Health Workers' Union, said

"The lack of communication, the lack of training, the lack of staffing and the lack of protection unfortunately has caused a huge concern in the aged care sector," she said. In brief, she said, members felt they were on the Titanic. Other health workers detailed many examples of unacceptable health and safety problems, leaving sick older people uncared for, uncomfortable and distressed.

A proposal to act- defeated

Last year Federal Parliament had before it some critical amendments to aged care legislation. These would force aged care providers to reveal how money was spent. How much was spent on food? What did staff cost? And how much went to providers, of the twenty billion dollars provided by the Federal Government? A study of eight hundred homes showed that the average cost of meals per resident was a measly six dollars a day. An interim report of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety had revealed a "shocking system" which was "inhumane." Details of complaints, assaults and staff numbers were all kept hidden. The amendments proposed to open this up to public scrutiny. But the Government defeated it, with the help of Pauline Hanson. Private profit had defeated public welfare, yet again. And there is far too much private profit in an aged care system funded by the Federal Government. It's disgraceful for older people in 'care homes' to be eating slops while aged care owners are driving expensive cars.

Conclusion.

Parliament is in a long recess. We're told it's not safe for MPs to be there. (Yet we've been told it's safe to open up schools.) A parliamentary recess happens to be convenient for the Government, who might not want detailed questions about their responsibility for aged care. Or their part in Ruby Princess's contribution to the spread of the virus. But the Government should face the music. We know the Bart Simpson defence: "It wasn't me, I didn't do it, I was a long way away at the time".

This virus, as we said, is like an attack by aliens. Defeating it will need people to work together. We need the States and Commonwealth to work together for the national good. Private profit must be pushed aside.

These matters affect us all. Unless we die in the interim, we will all need some kind of aged care when we get older. Time for action, State and Federal Governments!