Lack of volunteers exposes aged care gaps

The diminishing number of volunteers in rural and remote areas will expose entrenched gaps in aged-care services.

The diminishing number of volunteers in rural and remote areas will expose entrenched gaps in aged-care services, leaving more Australians vulnerable, a royal commission has been told.

Sitting in Dubbo, NSW, the commission heard private providers did not operate in some smaller communities and government services were limited. Instead, volunteers provided transport, meals and support.

Rachel Winterton, a rural ageing researcher from La Trobe University, told the commission there were “real concerns” about the ­future availability of volunteers. Young people were moving away from towns, adults were working longer, and some simply might not have the time or ability to help.

Dr Winterton said many communities did not have an aged-care provider. “It will differ between places and communities, but I think we do need to have some sort of understanding of what equitable access would look like,” she said on Tuesday.

Sue Hood told the commission of her experience caring for husband Alan, who has advanced dementia, and their difficulties obtaining services.

Mr Hood was largely non-­verbal by the time he was assessed for home-care services. Even though he was eligible, the wait was estimated to be 18 to 24 months, and Mrs Hood found herself having to move her husband into a Dubbo aged-care facility. “I could not, physically and probably mentally, retain the care that I was giving him — which I did for the four years, and basically the last 18 months was pretty heavy going,” Mrs Hood said.

“I was shaving him, I was helping him get in the shower, I was making sure he ate breakfast, ate lunch, ate dinner.”

When Mrs Hood took her husband from hospital to the aged-care facility, he told her “this is the end”. He moved in physically strong, and able to walk, but within two months had a broken hip that left him immobile.

“I need to get out there and say something for these elderly ­people in these homes,” Mrs Hood told the commission.

Commissioner Tony Pagone QC told Mrs Hood the community and the government needed to hear evidence like hers.