The heat in Australia is our number 1 natural killer. Heat kills more people in Australia than all other natural disasters, combined. Some of our prisons are air conditioned, the enclosures for zoo animals are air conditioned. The pet boarding facility my cat stayed in for a week was air conditioned. Why are many aged care facilities in Australia not air conditioned? The elderly are the most prone to the effects of heat related illness as they are unable to cope with drastic temperature changes and often medication interferes with the bodies ability to maintain temperature. My complaint to the Aged Care Complaints Commission was a complete waste of time. If this is the department responsible for holding aged care facilities accountable then we have more problems than I originally thought. They have informed me that the nursing home has not breached any laws and as such no action will be taken. They commended the nursing home on taking action by dabbing my gran with a damp cloth and giving her ice blocks. Measures that were only taken when I complained to the director of nursing after arriving to find my Gran in distress at 1.30pm, until then, no measures had been taken. I find it very difficult to believe they would've done anything at all had I not been there to insist something was done. If a residents relative needs to be there to ensure adequate care is being given before efforts are made to prevent heat related illness, then the system isn't working and needs to be reviewed. The nursing home has advised me that the vents in my Grans room are for the ducted heating system. It's good to know that in winter she'll be warm, however, Australia is not known for it's cold climate and I think some priorities are out of order. If nursing homes were air conditioned there would be no need for ice blocks and damp cloths. Given the staff to resident ratios it is almost impossible to think nursing homes are able to provide every resident with a cool sponge bath at all let alone at the frequency required to provide any actual benefit or relief. I have received a response to my letters from the offices of Premier Mike Baird and Phillip Ruddock MP, who do not feel this issue falls within their jurisdiction and have forwarded my letters to other Ministers. I am yet to receive any response from Sussan Ley MP. Today I will contact the Australian Law Reform Commission with my request for the review the legislation to make air conditioning in Australian aged care facilities mandatory. Keep the signatures and shares coming. Write to your local Minister. We need to make as much noise as possible so we will be noticed by the media and the Minister for Health & Ageing, Sussan Ley. 2000 signatures, thank you so much for the support so far! There are clearly many people as passionate about the conditions in aged care as I am and together, I believe we can make a change. Ash (and Joy)