news
Ministerial changes welcome
Industry bodies keen to work with new ministers for health and aged care on sector reform .
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has announced a raft of ministerial changes , including the appointment of Ken Wyatt to the newly configured aged care and Indigenous health portfolio .
Following the resignation of minister for health and aged care Sussan Ley , Wyatt , who was the assistant minister in that portfolio , will represent aged care in Cabinet , while Greg Hunt has been appointed minister for health .
Ken Wyatt
Chair of the board for Leading Age Services Australia ( LASA ) Dr Graeme Blackman said the peak body was delighted the government had heeded calls from the industry for a dedicated minister for aged care .
Blackman added he was confident the incoming minister would be a passionate advocate for the care of older Australians . Aged & Community Services Australia chief executive Pat Sparrow acknowledged the contribution Ley made within aged care and added Wyatt had been very engaged with the industry and with agedcare issues .
“ Work-in-progress includes a legislated review of the 2012 aged-care reforms , the examination of residential agedcare funding to ensure sustainability , significant reforms to home care to provide consumers with more choice and control over their care , and an examination of the next steps in aged-care reform with the Aged Care Roadmap ,” Sparrow said .
LASA chief executive Sean Rooney said he was looking forward to continuing to work with Wyatt to realise the intent of the aged-care reform agenda and address the pressing issues for the aged-care sector .
Rooney said : “ Key issues to resolve include working with the sector to develop a sustainable funding strategy for aged care ; addressing ongoing issues with the My Aged Care portal , which has failed to deliver for consumers , providers and government ; and fixing a payment system that continues to cause frustration and red tape for consumers and providers .” ■
Program boosts mobility
Octogenarian jumps at chance to help others improve strength , balance and flexibility through gymnastics .
Doreen Wilson may be 84 years old but that has not stopped her pursuing her love of gymnastics .
In fact , her belief in its ability to keep older people fit and healthy has resulted in the launch of a new national program , Move for Life ( moveforlife . org . au ), which is being rolled out at gymnastics and fitness centres across the country . There are also plans for gymnastics centres to partner with aged-care facilities .
Wilson said there wasn ’ t any “ real gymnastics ” when she was a child , but the former sports teacher had always loved moving and it was something that had continued throughout her life . She said there were numerous benefits to people over 55 taking up gymnastics .
“ Maybe you ’ ll get to the stage where you think , ‘ Oh my gosh , I have to sit down to pull up my pantyhose or my jeans ,’” Wilson said . “[ After doing the program ] they say , ‘ Hey , Doreen , I pulled up my jeans today without any trouble standing .’
“ So those are the really beautiful things that happen .”
Gymnastics Queensland development manager Kate Wadkin said it was hoped the program would help people realise the sport was not just for elite athletes and young people .
“ At its foundation , gymnastics is all about fundamental movement ,” Wadkin said .
The classes are low impact and focus on improving mobility , strength , balance , coordination and flexibility .
Wilson , who suffered polio as a child , urged people of all ages to maintain an active lifestyle .
“ It ’ s a case of how you live ,” she said . “ What ’ s good for the body is good for the brain .”
Despite her age , Wilson does not plan to slow down . The Move for Life ambassador said her “ God-given talent ” was her ability to inspire people to be self-motivated . ■
With AAP
2 agedcareinsite . com . au