Anglicare says ageing neglected at 2020 summit

Anglicare Sydney’s chief executive officer, Peter Kell, has spoken out against the neglect of ageing as part of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s 2020 conference initiative.

“Anglicare wants to encourage the Rudd Government to make aged care a priority issue and undertake the reforms that are necessary to make it viable for service providers.

“Inadequate recurrent funding increases in the past mean that it has become more and more difficult to meet the care needs of increasingly frailer residents,” Mr Kell said.

“In addition, the absence of accommodation bonds in high care has meant providers have been denied the opportunity to generate capital with which to develop new facilities.”

Mr Kell said early signs from the Rudd Government were not promising, with ageing and aged care especially, not being included as part of the Prime Minister’s proposed 2020 conference initiative.

“The Rudd Government needs to demonstrate that it has what its predecessors didn’t have – the courage to take on the difficult issues of aged care reform.”