Elderly need our support

WE were all well aware of the huge failings in the aged-care sector long before coronavirus ripped our world apart. But if a measure of a functioning society is in how it treats its most vulnerable, Australia is failing miserably.

Most of us try not to think about how we will see out our final days, preferring instead to enjoy the quality of life we now have.

But for those who have relatives in care homes or who will soon face a move, the reality is daunting. Indeed, some of the stories emerging from aged-care facilities in Victoria are almost unbearable to read.

The Australian has reported that elderly coronavirus patients have been refused admission to Victorian hospitals and are instead to be treated in their aged-care facilities. An inexcusable practice by any measure.

That publication has also reported that in agedcare homes some patients are being sedated.

Chemical sedation is an issue that has previously been raised during the Royal Commission into Aged Care, with lack of staff to look after increasingly complex care needs being blamed for the practice.

Medical experts say that sedating coronaviruspositive patients to stop them from wandering and infecting other patients could potentially worsen their respiratory condition.

In the Mercury on Saturday we reported that Advocacy Tasmania was calling for all aged-care residents to be given a private phone in their room to protect their independence.

The organisation estimated that 40 per cent of Tasmanian aged-care residents don’t have access to a private phone, some 2000 people. They are worried if there is another outbreak they won’t be able to contact their families.

Living through isolation, unable to see family and friends is hard enough. Providing something as basic as a phone should be essential in terms of ensuring quality of life.

There have been more than 200 deaths linked to Victoria’s aged-care sector and as of Monday there were 2075 active cases.

Not admitting COVID-positive cases into hospital means the virus spreads around facilities, ultimately leading to more deaths. These people — our grans, grandads, aunties and uncles — are dying and families don’t have the chance to say their goodbyes as lockdown rules diminish access to the homes.

With longer life expectancies, if the aged-care model isn’t improved the situation will only get worse.

It should concern us all that these facilities seem to be under-resourced and inadequate at the best of times, but in the middle of a health crisis, all bets are off and the elderly are effectively being sacrificed.

National Cabinet this Friday will discuss further measures to protect aged-care facilities, including more infection control training, mandatory use of face masks and an audit of capabilities. It’s perplexing further action has taken so long given we all knew how vulnerable these facilities were.

IF THE AGED-CARE MODEL ISN’T IMPROVED THE SITUATION WILL ONLY GET WORSE. IT SHOULD CONCERN US ALL THAT THESE FACILITIES SEEM TO BE UNDER-RESOURCED AND INADEQUATE AT THE BEST OF TIMES