Government report forces question: What’s going on with Aussie aged care?

The number of assaults reported within aged care homes has jumped by 10%, with 2,625 cases last year alone. This report released by the Department of Social Services (DSS) has forced people to ask, is enough being done to protect our oldest Australians?

Of the reported assaults, 2,199 involved unreasonable use of force whilst 426 cases involved unlawful sexual contact. Other complaints about the standard of Australian aged homes included poor healthcare, a lack of communication, poor physical surroundings and under-resourced staff.

With over 230,000 Australians in permanent aged care and a further 800,000 needing regular home care, this report has rung alarm bells within the government and public alike. A spokeswoman for DSS said, “the health, safety and wellbeing of older people is of paramount importance to the Australian government”.

However, that’s cold comfort for the families of people in aged care. As one Facebook user said, “the vulnerable who paid taxes and worked their butts off, went through war and made this country what we enjoy today – deserve better than being man handled and abused”.

“We now have young disabled under state care being shunted into federal aged care, putting extra pressure on staff being underpaid. This will be us sooner than we realise. Our pollies need to stop wasting money”.

Whilst another person added, “imagine making a complaint, your old mum or dad could be dead by the time they sorted through the paperwork, its all a load of crock”.

Are you shocked by the state of Australian aged care? What can be down to curb the instances of abuse against Australia’s most vulnerable people?