Minister’s heartfelt plea
HOUSING Minister Mick de Brenni is to intervene on behalf of elderly residents after a Gold Coast retirement home operator refused to fund two defibrillators.
He also told the Bulletin he would speak to other government ministers to identify options for new laws to provide for important medical machines such as defibrillators.
Mr de Brenni met resident Margaret Gampe yesterday at the large Domain property at Ashmore which houses about 400 retirees.
A Bulletin report this month revealed Aveo, a $1.8 billion company which operates 75 retirement villages, rejected a resident committee recommendation to buy the devices to be placed in a community centre and the lodge.
“What impressed upon me was the level of frustration the residents feel in asking for something that is clearly so reasonable,” Mr de Brenni said.
“It’s an inexpensive but lifesaving device, particularly when you look at the overall value of that company and the ongoing value of a resident’s life.
“To be frank, I was shocked that a company that reports a profit of $89 million won’t enter into negotiations with their residents to provide them a simple lifesaving device.”
One of the arguments used by the residents is that the machines cost only $2000 to $3000 and are placed in many shopping centres.
Mr de Brenni said he had obtained contact details from Mrs Gampe of the company’s executive involved in the recent negotiations.
“I’m going to give them a call and I am going to say to them I think the company should meet the requests of these residents,” he said.
“It’s extraordinary they have been knocked back on this. For 400 residents and they are asking for two defibrillators, the amount of income earned from each and every one of them is significant compared to what they are asking for.”
Mr de Brenni said he would work with the Association of Residents of Queensland Retirement Villages to obtain a real picture of the extent of the provision of the machines across retirement villages.
“I will be interested to see if Aveo has provided the defibrillators at other villages.”
Aveo has admitted “defibrillators are a great benefit to a retirement village” and ease the concerns of residents.
And a company spokesman said the Domain Country Club had a fully functioning defibrillator, which was above the legislative requirements for a retirement village.
Residents said they paid for the defibrillator after pooling their funds and it was hooked to a golf cart which meant it could not always be available in main meeting places in the estate.