Brad Crouch: Making monitors legal may give relatives relief

THE response by the Aged Care Complaints Commissioner — who “can’t even acknowledge whether there has been a case” — shows up the tragic farce our aged-care system is.

A screengrab from the hidden video, showing Lucas’ abuse of Clarence Hausler.

• Has a similar incident happened to you or your family? Email us: [e-mail]

• THE VIDEO: Elderly man’s horrific abuse by carer caught on hidden camera
• THE UNION: ‘Stop dodgy nursing home staff from getting new jobs’
• THE ABUSER: How a cruel coward lied to hide his vile actions
• THE DAUGHTER: Brave courage forces action on CCTV

THE tragic farce in our aged-care system brought to light by a hidden camera is summed up by the response of the Aged Care Complaints Commissioner who not only can’t tell us if the corporation involved has been punished, but “can’t even acknowledge whether there has been a case”.

Talk about treating the public like mushrooms.

But keeping the public in the dark seems par for the course in the twilight world of aged care.

It is a world of buck-passing, where state and federal governments share responsibilities but no-one is too keen to know what really goes on behind closed doors. You might feel safer in prison.

The emotionally draining decision to put a love one in care is magnified by the anxiety about the quality of care between visits.

While the vast majority of carers are no doubt genuinely caring, the fear of a rogue staff member alone in a bedroom with a vulnerable elderly relative is the stuff of nightmares.

Families are in a weak position. A torrent of calls and comments to The Advertiser since the story broke has carried a common theme — people are worried to rock the boat for fear their relative will suffer a backlash from staff.

As a result, few people with complaints are willing to go public.

This makes Noleen Hausler a community hero. She was so worried about her bedridden dad, she used a spy camera to film his abuse, and in desperation for change went to the media.

She is keeping her father Clarence, 89, at the Mitcham Residential Care Facility, confident he will not suffer as a result of her righting a terrible wrong. She has faith in the rest of the staff. Her daily visits will help.

Her courageous actions may signal a seachange. By shining a spotlight into the world of aged care via a spy camera, she has jolted the nation into a debate over monitoring equipment.

Our elderly in homes deserve dignity as well as care. If the public decides dignity requires the legal option of monitoring equipment in bedrooms for peace of mind, the politicians must listen.