More aged care staff, more training and more empathy

About 20 years ago, my neighbour told me she had removed her elderly father from an aged care facility where he was not receiving proper care to another place where he was much happier. I was 65 then and she told me, “Margaret, if you ever need to move to some type of aged care always look for ‘not for profit’.”

When that time came in 2019 I acted on that advice; it took a fair bit of research but now my husband and I and our dog live in an independent retirement village that is run by a not-for-profit organisation. The garden and house maintenance are done for us and a higher level of care is available if needed. We could not be happier. We receive a monthly statement of where and how our “fee” is spent and are confident that not one of our precious dollars will go into the pocket of a shareholder.

With the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety being in the news it is recommended more training is needed. I agree. However, to quote Ellen Fanning from ABC-TV’s The Drum last night, “Lack of training should not be a barrier to staff who have the right attitude.”

I worked as a diversional therapist in a nursing home 33 years ago. It was not for profit and I did not see any serious lack of care. I loved my job but I was not a nurse and did not physically care for the residents. There were some on the staff who loved being there and some who did not. I have a wonderful memory of an untrained person who “worked as a nurse” — all the residents loved Nancy; I can still hear their many voices echoing down the corridor ... “Nancy, Nancy”. Nancy was kind, gentle and compassionate; no amount of training can give you those qualities.

Margaret Brabrook, Toowoomba, Qld

I have worked in the aged care industry for more than 10 years as a personal carer and in lifestyle roles. I feel that the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety has partially missed the target. While money does need to be spent to ensure quality, trained staff and increased staffing, we also desperately need to address mental health.

The report indicated that residents in aged care facilities are losing the will to live and are depressed. What are we going to do about that? People suffering from depression sometimes don’t want to get out of bed, let alone eat, but the carers have to answer to angry supervisors and sometimes angry family members if residents are not out of bed and eating. So the resident is desperately sad and feels like no one cares, and the carer has too much to do and no time to offer support. This cycle creates opportunity for frustration, impatience and abuse, which then adds to the residents’ feelings of withdrawal.

We need to go further than removing bad, abusive staff members. We need to start really seeing our older Australians and truly caring for them — completely and holistically. It’s time to give back.

V. Brown, Sunshine Coast, Qld

I am an aged person (92), not in need of care (yet) and would like to make some observations. My wife, before she died, was in aged care (Alzheimer’s) for 12 years and was treated very well.

An old friend is in receipt of a Home Care Package, which also seems to work well. So the systems, when working well, are fine. Before either system can be expanded, many more people will have to be trained to carry out these duties. The Government does not have bottomless pockets.

I believe aged people needing care should contribute according to their means. Whether it be capital, pension contribution, or some combination of each. There is no “one size fits all” solution to this problem and if inheritance is diminished, then so be it. The need is there, and somebody has to pay for it.

Peter Weste, Sebastopol, Vic

Today, I will be seeing two friends, aged 95 and 100, who are in a new, well-appointed, nursing home. They are both in that nursing home because of their medical needs. Neither is there because he wants to be. Both my friends would prefer to be living independently but are content because the nursing home staff are terrific.

Unlike 30 years ago, today you won’t find anyone residing in a nursing home for other than medical reasons. The development of Aged Care Assessment Teams put an end to the minimal care patient rorts of some earlier nursing homes. So nursing homes, unlike hostels and retirement villages, should be funded in the same way as other medical facilities. This means state governments have to be part of any appropriate financial arrangements.

Brent Walker, Killcare, NSW