Inquiry flags aged care system overhaul

ROYAL COMMISSIONERS SLAM SAD AND SHOCKING AGED CARE SYSTEM

WHAT THE COMMISSIONERS CONCLUDED:

The aged care system is failing and needs needs fundamental reform and redesign, not mere patching up. But recommendations for a complete overhaul will come in the final report in November 2020.

It is cruel, harmful, unkind and uncaring, they said. Older people and their families are left isolated and powerless.

"It is a shocking tale of neglect."

THE 'SHAMEFUL' LIST OF SHOCKING EVIDENCE:

* Dreadful food, nutrition and hydration, along with insufficient attention to oral health

* Inadequate prevention and management of wounds, sometimes leading to death

* Distressed residents left sitting or lying in urine or faeces

* High incidence of assaults by staff on residents, and by residents on other residents and workers

* Physical restraints commonly used to make residents easier to manage

* Widespread overprescribing of drugs to sedate residents

* Patchy and fragmented palliative care for dying residents

WHERE THE COMMISSION WANTS URGENT ACTION:

* Home care - provide more packages to reduce the waiting list for higher level care at home

* Chemical restraint - respond to the significant over-reliance on chemical restraints in aged care

* Younger people with disabilities - stop them going into aged care and speed up the process to get them out

OTHER OBSERVATIONS:

* Substandard care is much more widespread and serious than they anticipated

* It is time for a reality check in the aged care sector that is heavily funded by government

* A poorly skilled, underpaid workforce is under pressure to provide care, and major changes are needed

* Australia has drifted into an ageist mindset that undervalues older people

* The notion that most care is 'consumer-directed' is just not true - there is little choice with aged care.