Prejudice and paternalism in aged care have to go
The immediate past president of the national aged care industry group, Aged and Community Services (ACSA), Glenn Bunney, has called for ‘culture change’ within the Department of Health and Ageing in a submission to the Senate Inquiry into aged care in Australia.
In his position as chief executive officer of Sundale Garden Village, Mr Bunney said in his submission that aged care policy has been characterised by the twin paradigms of prejudice and paternalism for over a decade.
“The whole thrust of the Aged Care Act 1997 is engendered with the ultimate authoritarian twist,” said the submission, “which is surely…inconsistent with the need for forward movement in our policy framework in an ever changing environment”.
The submission warned that ‘command and control’ attitudes and a lack of trust in Canberra meant that the needs and aspirations of older people were at risk of being compromised.
“A continuation of the existing regime and legislative framework will commit our nation to failure,” the submission said.
“Australia has fallen behind our international counterparts in the planning and structure for older people, ironically often on the basis of initiatives that have been formulated by Australian service providers.
“Ignoring the realities of the situation, or ‘shooting the messengers’ will not improve the situation.”
Mr Bunney has called for a radical overhaul of the existing system, including development of a new aged care framework that would replace the Aged Care Act.
Submissions received by the inquiry are at:. http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/committee/fapa_ctte/aged_care/submissions/sublist.htm
