‘We can’t wait until April 2020’: fears aged-care royal commission could delay reform
The Government has provided more detail around its Royal Commission into the scandal-plagued aged-care sector.
The sweeping inquiry will take place in Adelaide, which has been identified as the epicentre of the crisis after scathing accusations emerged out of the Oakden nursing home scandal. Led by Supreme Court Justice Joseph McGrath and former public servant Lynelle Briggs, the commission will be empowered with a “ deliberately broad” terms of reference, to ensure nothing is off the table.
But the Commission won’t issue its final report until April 2020.
Luke Grant says that while the commission is welcome news, it cannot inhibit or delay reform in a sector crying out for solutions.
“Here’s my plea to government,” says Luke.
“It is wrong to think we have to wait until April 2020 to start fixing things. We’ve got 121,000 elderly Australians waiting for home support , with 47% of those having the highest level of care needs. They’re waiting nine to twelve months. There’s been a 400% increase in preventable deaths over the past decade in our nursing homes.”
“ That’s 400%. Let that figure wash over for a moment. Falls, chocking and suicide, they’re the main causes. It’s just so sad.”
“Act now. Let’s sort this out. To sit and wait and do nothing is wrong.”
Listen to Luke’s interview with Ian Yates, Chief Executive of the Council on the Ageing, as he outlines his five fixes for the aged-care sector.