UPDATE Letter to the Aged Care Minister

This is a copy of my latest correspondence to the Minister on Aged Care issues Dear Minister Ley I am closing my petition which I started in December 2015 called "NO More Cuts To Aged Care" which can be found on change.org 1) In retrospect I can see that Aged Care Providers' services needed to become more efficient. In my experience this has not happened. The new system means that clients have to wait months longer for services because My Aged Care is lagging behind with assessments. Previously if you wanted a new service it would be arranged straight away. Now you have to wait months. 2) In addition, previous help for clients with disabilities to complete required paperwork for compliance and fee waivers, is no longer available. This is unfair on people who no longer have family or friends to help them. Providers are blaming this on government funding cuts. 3) It has come to my attention that some Carers and Nurses in residential and in-home care are neglecting their duty of care to clients. There should be a legal requirement of Providers to make sure that their employees are properly assessed for suitability for their caring role, and to monitor their employees to prevent abuse and neglect of clients in their care. Reducing funding to Providers has had no effect on this latter issue. The frail aged should not have to deal with these stressful issues when they are struggling with illness and disabilities. You have worked very hard to make improvements in the aged care system and we are very thankful for your efforts. It is my hope that you will be able to make a positive impact to change the above inefficiencies in the system. Yours Sincerely Carmen Verne