Aged services threat sparks alarm
September 30, 2008
VICTORIAN hospitals and nursing homes will be placed under massive strain if a proposed federal takeover of aged care reduces home-based services for the elderly to the levels of other states, union and aged care groups warn.
The Australian Services Union backed warnings by the Municipal Association of Victoria in yesterday's Age that services such as meals on wheels, respite care and cleaning would be in jeopardy without the annual $100 million voluntarily contributed by Victorian councils.
Branch secretary Brian Parkinson said Victoria, the only state where home care is provided by local councils, had the best model for providing services to the elderly.
"The proof is we get people out of hospitals and back into their own homes quicker than any other state," he said.
The chief executive of Aged and Community Care Victoria, Gerard Mansour, said the Victorian Government and councils subsidised the Home and Community Care program more than any other state.
"It would be a very disturbing outcome if this was seen as an opportunity to reduce services to the lowest common denominator, for example attempting to make decisions based on price without regard to quality," he said.
Abridged
SOURCE: The Age, Melbourne
-----------------------------------------------------
More Recent Posts from Spotlight on Elder Abuse
No comments:
Post a Comment