IN a speech to Seymour residents, Independent candidate for Nicholls, Rob Priestly, has called on the Federal Government to improve standards of aged care support for older Australians.
“There are still long waiting lists to access the crucial Home Care Packages that enable older Australians to remain in their homes for longer, maintaining their quality of life, and keeping pressure off already struggling aged care facilities.”
“Thousands of Australians in need of care are going without, or are being forced prematurely into aged care facilities that cost more and diminish quality of life for those who could otherwise remain in their home.”
“The major problem is the government’s failures to address workforce shortages. The people who provide aged care services do an amazing job, but they are too few and being stretched to the limit.”
Mr Priestly expressed concern that the government was not moving quickly enough to resolve problems in the sector.
“The planned timetable for implementing changes from the Aged Care Royal Commission is too slow. Those in the system can’t afford to wait five years for these problems to be fixed. There just doesn’t seem to be enough urgency to deal with this.”
“Elderly people deserve their dignity as much as anyone else and those working in the sector need some help.”
