Four Corners turns spotlight on aged care tonight

Aged care peak bodies and individual facilities are bracing themselves for Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) Television’s Four Corners program at 8.30pm tonight, which is devoted to aged care.

As well as interviews with industry leaders and the Minister, Four Corners has spoken to families regarding specific complaints, and has approached facilities in three states for responses.

The Department of Health and Ageing has also written to Approved Providers across the country to advise that in response to a request from Channel Nine, it has released all information on sanctions, and non compliance by providers since 1 July 2007.

This media interest is in part inspired by both the Aged and Community Services (ACSA) and the Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) campaign on aged care. Industry sources say that there is a “well co-ordinated national response on behalf of the industry planned”.