industry & reform
‘ A watershed moment ’
Governor General David Hurley receives the final report of the Royal Commission into aged care . Photo : AAP Image / Dan Himbrechts
Aged care sector reacts to the royal commission final report .
By Dallas Bastian
Get cracking . That ’ s the overwhelming call from advocacy groups in response to the release of the aged care royal commission ’ s final report .
Council on the Ageing ( COTA ) Australia said the report ’ s release places the onus on the Morrison Government to address systemic issues with home care , nursing home regulation , staffing and transparency .
The group ’ s chief executive Ian Yates said : “ The fact that there are a few alternative recommendations from the commissioners on the best way to manage and fund the aged care system in no way lets government off the hook . There are no barriers to commencing urgent and long-awaited reforms .”
In a statement , Yates said COTA would prioritise advocating for home care without a wait , a stronger regulator , a star rating system for staffing , transparency and consumer control and rights .
Overall , he said Prime Minister Scott Morrison should include in the Budget a major package with a clear timeline of when decisions will be made and implemented over the next four years .
Craig Gear , chief executive of the Older Persons Advocacy Network called
16 | nursingreview . com . au the release of the report “ a watershed moment ”.
“ The Royal Commission has confirmed that aged care must move from a substitute decision-maker model to a supported decision-maker model , which means preferencing the choices of the older person , and upholding their right to make these choices ,” Gear said .
AN APOLOGY FROM PROVIDERS Within hours of the report ’ s release , a consortium of aged care provider peak bodies apologised for the harm endured by older Australians and their loved ones .
Speaking on behalf of the Australian Aged Care Collaboration , which represents organisations that provide 70 per cent of the nation ’ s aged care services , Sean Rooney said the report cited some appalling examples where individuals or aged care services had failed in their duties to provide safe and quality care for older Australians .
“ These failures are unacceptable and we are sorry for the harm they have caused to older Australians and their loved ones ,” said Rooney .
The Leading Age Services Australia chief added there have been too many examples of individuals and services who have failed people in their care .
“ In recent times we have made changes to raise standards and we are continuing to do so . We are committed to doing better .”
DIFFERING VIEWS ‘ DISAPPOINTING ’ In handing down their report , commissioners Tony Pagone and Lynelle Briggs have set out a roadmap for reform in the aged care sector – but they couldn ’ t always agree on the best route .
Aged and Community Services Australia called the commissioners ’ divergent recommendations “ disappointing ” but added that “ there is no split on the need for a total overhaul ”.
“ This cannot be used as an excuse to not progress major reforms . We know what the big problems are – we now need the big solutions ,” the peak ’ s chief executive Patricia Sparrow said .
“ We need an overhaul , not just more top-ups , in order to guarantee respect for older Australians for future generations .”
STAFFING The final report recommended an appropriate skills mix and daily minimum staff time for registered nurses , enrolled nurses and personal care workers for each resident , and at least one registered nurse on site at all times .
The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation , which has long advocated for such changes , said the current government and many previous governments have done nothing to address ever-increasing shortages of registered nurses and qualified carers working in aged care .