Lessons from Aged Care Failure According to Reports

It’s always a lesson taught to us: “We should always treat the elderly with respect.” However, recent events in the country proved that not all may have taken this lesson into the heart.

Yes, this is in relation to the revelations elderly abuse and neglect that led the Morrison government to establish a royal commission into Australia’s aged-care sector. In numbers, there were 5,000 submissions that came from different sources, which included families, friends, aged care consumers, aged care workers, health professionals and providers. There is even one aged-care service that was forcibly closed after the Oakden nursing home scandal.

The horrific string of events has awakened the eyes of Australia, clearly showing the cracks on how broken the system is underneath.

Even the prime minister said: “Our aged-care sector in Australia provides some of the best care in the world … However, incidences of older people being hurt by failures of care simply cannot be explained or excused.”

“Australians must be able to trust that their loved ones will be cared for appropriately and the community should have confidence in the system,” he added.

Everywhere in the world, there is an imposed age limit on how long a person should work. Some countries dictate that people should retire at the age of 65. The body has its limit, and there will be a time wherein we can’t fully unleash our potential due to complications or hindrances due to old age.

However, many older people still think they can still work and contribute to the economy. In Australia, data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics suggests that a lot of older Australians want to retire to a later date if they’re allowed to.

On the other hand, aged workers felt being undervalued. Definitely, residential aged care facilities are a must for a number the elderly in the country for a whole lot of different reasons. The Conversation released an ethnographic study that focused on two residential aged care facilities in Victoria. Unfortunately, the two facilities displayed an under-skilled, under-valued and overworked aged care workforce.

The older generation is left to live with people who are not well-versed in aged care. They are also exposed to anonymous workers, which leave them experiencing the lack of familial connection and decreased chances of teamwork and relationships.

Despite the undermining of aged care workers, it’s a must to devise ways on how to encourage healthcare professionals to enter the aged care sector. However, this is easier said that since the process will require a focused approach. There is a need to show the potential of the industry and that there is professional respect in the field.

It must be recognised that human connection is important when it comes to aged care. Residential aged care facilities should be able to come up with strategies that priorities the well-being of its residents and not suck out money from them. It’s essential for both parties—staff and residents—to build a rapport with each other. Taking care of the aged is a commitment; staff must possess the necessary skill set to take care of the elderly.

There is a need to prioritise aged care in medical school education. Professionals or people who want to take care of the elderly should have proper training through aged care courses in melbourne. MCIE offers such courses to help professionals understand how it is really to take care of the elderly.

For enquiries more information about the available courses and schedules, contact MCIE today: Call: 1300 737 004 from Monday to Friday at 9:00 am to 5:00 pm or Email: email info@mcie.edu.au or visit the Contact Us Page: https://www.mcie.edu.au/contact/