Localising aged care

Many of us, if not all of us, want to live in a place we can call ‘home sweet home’. A new telephone survey has revealed, while some people cannot physically live in their own homes, setting up local aged-care facilities may provide some benefit.

The findings of the community telephone survey by Myriad Research for the Southern Tasmanian Councils Authority reveal a startling 90.7% of people raised concerns in the area of aged care; with people suggesting facilities should be located to allow people to stay in the communities where they currently live.

Council on the Ageing (COTA) Tasmania chief executive, Maxine Griffiths, tells DPS eNews if older Tasmanians remain in their local community, whether in their own home or residential care, they can “maintain their social connections and relationships which have been proven helpful as people age”.

Ranked as the second concern of Tasmanians is increased resources to support people in the community with a disability or mental illness, with 88.6% of those surveyed rating this as ‘important’ or very ‘important’.

The third concern, with 75% of respondents expressing worry, is building more affordable housing in areas close to existing services.

About 1,200 people were surveyed in June and July, with 476 people in urban areas and 736 participants in rural areas.

The council’s aim was to assess the views of residents in each of the 12 southern council municipal areas on a regional vision for southern Tasmania for the next 20 years. 

“I can think of nothing worse as I age to be ‘placed’ in a residential facility outside of my geographical familiar surroundings and where family and friends would need to travel to visit and maintain a relationship with me,” Ms Griffiths says.

“Locating residential and community aged care services within local areas promotes employment and business opportunities not otherwise available to small communities,” she adds.

Ms Griffiths says the Productivity Commission report into aged care, which was released early last month, “talks about more choice for older people and ensures older people have a say about what they want and need”.

“Given that Tasmania is the fastest ageing state, I think we could use a model that works,” she says.

Do you believe aged care facilities should be located to allow people to stay in the communities where they live? Share your thoughts in the comment box below.