Aged care crisis

By Kimberly Grabham.

Aged care in Hay is in trouble.

And we need to get to the bottom of it.

A public meeting will be called later in the year by the Local Health Advisory Committee to address obstacles which prevent Hay from attracting funding for a Multi-Purpose Service at the hospital.

It’s no secret that in the past, Hay has felt the brunt of being an isolated town, missing the federal and state funding arcs and attention when it comes to key services, aged care being merely one of these.

John Perry, President of Hay Local Health Advisory Committee, is fighting to change this, but is fighting against the proverbial tide.

“I just want the very best services for the people of Hay,” he said.

“I intend to contact the Aged Care Commission, which issues the licenses, and get to the bottom of this pertinent issue.

“We have put in numerous applications for a multi-purpose facility to be built at Hay Hospital, for aged care.

“This will mean there will be more aged care spots locally for the elderly, and they will have access to critical and acute care as needed.

“The Board of Haydays refuses to support or agree to the proposal, and their approval is needed by the government.

“Haydays is in no way affected by the applications, or what will happen as a result – all it will mean is that we have vital access to government funding.

“They believe that by agreeing to this, that the hospital will be able to run or have any sort of say in regards to Haydays, and nothing would be further from the truth – it has no affect whatsoever.

“Early September, I am having another meeting with Primary Health Network (PHN), which is in the process of collecting information.

“After this, I will be calling a town meeting so the residents of Hay are no longer left in the dark.

“They need and deserve to know why the multi-purpose facility at the hospital has not and cannot happen with the present situation, and indeed the benefits of the multi-purpose centre going ahead.

“You can’t hold the community up; people need to know.

“I can’t stress strongly enough that Haydays is a facility which is needed in town, and will not be impacted in any way, as has been explained to the board of Haydays on different occasions by Council and government officials.

“Haydays was invited to the LHAC meeting last week, I personally handed the flyer to the manager who assured me they would attend. They didn’t.

“Haydays again will be invited to the public meeting in a couple of months.”

Aged care is a hot topic for many reasons.

Low wages versus the workload, and the detrimental effects of understaffing.

Low ratios of staff, meaning that the hardworking carers are stretched paper-thin across many residents, with detrimental consequences for both.

Reputation of the aged care sector has dropped immeasurably, with the current situations, and the light that has been shed upon it by Royal Commission.

Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network (PHN) is a federal government initiative.

Its aim is to provide localised face-to-face assistance and support in regards to navigating the aged care system.

PHN representatives, Julie Milsom, Thomas Lemerle and Jane Gerhard were in Hay last Wednesday to conduct an information and discussion session.

Their aim was to ascertain the deficiencies and needs which locals experience in Aged Care.

Anecdotes from the meeting paint the inadequate picture that is the current state of services for the aging sector of our community.

“My aged care assessment was conducted over the phone, and they commented that I sound just fine,” one attendee recalled.

“There is a long wait for anything and everything,” another commented.

“It is a common theme among Hay residents, that they are unsure where to find information and where to go to get assistance,” the daughter of another attendee remarked.

The wait for services such as Occupational Therapy services, specialist appointments, and facilities such as rails inside the home were also addressed.

When asked about satisfaction in regards to times for local GP appointments, the consensus was that it was a short week or two, and if it was urgent, it was sooner.

Home care services were widely praised, apart from the comments that the furniture was not moved around often enough, in order to clean beneath.

The current aged care residential facilities were also the topic of discussion.

Importantly, once someone becomes a high care dementia patient, they are sent to facilities away from Hay.

A suggestion at last week’s meeting which had been discussed in the past was tabled again; that aged care facilities in Hay should be amalgamated into a multi-purpose facility at the hospital, for the benefit and safety of residents, especially higher care residents.

One or two workers versus many patients with high care needs results in a feeling of lack of safety for residents, and overworked and under-supported staff.

The verdict is clear: we need better ratios, better information, better help, better everything.

It is clear that, in spite of recent High Commissions and discussions of aged care sector overhauls, the aged care sector is sorely wanting.

The commission promises results by 2024; with an ever-increasing ageing population, that finds it difficult to obtain direction or reassurance on their needs and how to meet them, we will all be watching and waiting for change.

Implementations such as PHN are an immense step in the right direction; many eyes will be watching to hopefully observe follow through and an upswing in all aspects.

These are the most pivotal times in a person’s life, the most vulnerable part of our community needs us to advocate for their quality of life and care.

Please, send in your thoughts to admin@thegrazier.com.au – we want to hear from you!