A bleak future for aged care
It is difficult – if not impossible – to tell the future; but a new Australian study has provided some startling insight into life of the aged care and nursing sector 50 years from now. The study revealed Australia would be short of 31,000 nurses within half a century.
It is difficult – if not impossible – to tell the future; but a new Australian study has provided some startling insight into life of the aged care and nursing sector 50 years from now.
The study, prepared by Monash University, revealed Australia would be short of 31,000 nurses within half a century and 15% of nurses were expected to leave the workforce within 12 months.
The study surveyed 640 nurses across the nation and also found 38% of the respondents had high to very high levels of burnout and stress with almost half stating they felt they had “no say” in how their work environment was being run.
Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation state secretary, Elizabeth Dabars, believed nurses felt “despondent” about their ability to provide quality care when they were not supported in their working environment.
While rewarding, Ms Dabars said nurses often felt “increasingly burdened” and the shortages of workers in the sector would only add to this burden.
“It is critical for the future of patient care, and therefore the community, that we do have sufficient numbers of nurses into the future,” she urged.
How do you see the future of aged care? Share your thoughts by commenting in the box below.
