Aged care providers in Tasmania are being urged to sign up to the federal government’s Living Longer Living Better reform package to avert a fast-emerging aged care crisis.
Health and Community Services Union Assistant State Secretary Tim Jacobson says recent TV reports showing the poor state of some facilities on the mainland are a sign of things to come in Tasmania unless action is taken.
“Our Members are not reporting these sorts of horror stories to us—yet—but they are reporting serious concerns about deteriorating conditions,” Tim Jacobson says.
“At some sites our Members are subject to chronic levels of overwork, being worked to exhaustion in fact, and this has potentially dangerous outcomes for themselves and elderly residents.”
Inadequate staffing, poor training and the continual loss of experienced staff are endemic throughout the aged care sector and have been identified as key issues to address to improve standards.
Tim Jacobson says providers who “stubbornly delay” signing up to the federal package, which provides an extra $1.2 billion for the sector and significantly improves pay and conditions, are “failing in their duty of care to both elderly residents and staff”.
“Australians expect aged care facilities to provide safe and comfortable accommodation,” he says.
“The expert evidence is unanimous—this package must be implemented.”
“The longer that providers delay in signing up, the worse this crisis will get.”
Tim Jacobson, HACSU Assistant State Secretary
