Nurses fear collapse of aged care system

Nurses say Australia's aged care system may collapse if the Federal Government does not make a major investment to fix it. Alzheimer's Australia has released a damning report that details the struggles of dementia sufferers and their carers at home and in facilities. The report, which was produced after consultation with about 1,000 dementia patients and their families, presents a disturbing picture of mistreatment, delayed diagnosis, confusion and a lack of compassion or understanding from hospital and aged care home staff. The Nursing Federation says many staff working in the sector are appallingly underpaid and the whole system is under immense strain. National secretary Lee Thomas says the report adds to mounting evidence the Government must substantially increase investment in this year's budget. "The Government have to act and I think they know they have to act," she said. "They have to act in terms of workforce, because there will always be people who require nursing home care. "If they don't act, then my fear is that the system will collapse." She says the wages of those working in aged care are up to $300 per week less than nurses working in public hospitals. "What's happening in aged care is there are less and less people working and available for older Australians in residential care," she said. The Federal Government has conceded the aged care system is failing dementia sufferers and their families and is not meeting the needs of the elderly. Alzheimer's Australia wants $500 million to be allocated in this year's budget to help dementia awareness, research and specialised care across the health system. Council On The Ageing chief executive Ian Yates says the aged care system needs a complete overhaul. "It's really important that the Government announces a comprehensive package of reform," he said. "The Productivity Commission has said aged care should be shaped around the people for whom its intended. "It's time we overhauled the system completely, starting with an announcement of a road map for the next five years."