Elderly care is a ‘national shame’

THE Royal Commission into Aged Care has heard there are almost 50 sexual assaults in residential care every week.

Senior counsel assisting the royal commission Peter Rozen referred to a KPMG report during his lengthy closing submissions on Thursday.

Mr Rozen said the estimated number of incidents of “unlawful sexual contact” in 2018– 19 was 2520, or almost 50 per week, including resident-on-resident assaults that are currently not reportable.

“Commissioners, this is a national shame,” he said.

“Many witnesses have explained they placed their loved ones into residential aged care because they felt it would be safer for them or because safety was a concern.

“It is therefore entirely unacceptable that people in residential aged care face a substantially higher risk of assault than people living in the community.”

Mr Rozen added in his written submissions that as disturbing as the figures were, the evidence of the lack of followup by the relevant government department was “if anything, worse”.

In 2018–19, residential aged care services reported 5233 allegations of assault, including 790 allegations of sexual assault, the inquiry heard.

Almost two in three residential care services reported an assault allegation in 2018–19, Mr Rozen said. The royal commission received 588 submissions mentioning sexual abuse.

In total, more than 10,000 submissions were received from residents, their families, staff, providers and government agencies nationwide.

The commission also heard from 641 witnesses, including 113 with direct experiences.

“We salute the courage of these witnesses for sharing the most intimate details of their lives to inform this inquiry,” Mr Rozen said.

He said at least one in five people receiving residential aged care had experienced substandard care.

“We submit that the evidence before the royal commissioners supports a finding that the level of substandard care being delivered in the current aged care system is far too high,” Mr Rozen said.

In his written submissions, Mr Rozen added that those running the aged care system did not seem to know the extent of substandard care and had made limited attempts to find out.

“They seem reticent to measure quality,” he wrote.

Counsel assisting the inquiry have suggested 124 recommendations, which Health Services Union national president Gerard Hayes said were a “breakthrough” for aged care.

The closing submissions will continue on Friday.