More Australians are calling advocacy services for help with aged care concerns

Key points:

• The number of calls to aged care advocacy services increased by 20 percent as per the Older Persons Advocacy Network’s recently released report
• Older Persons Advocacy Network Chief Executive Officer Craig Gear highlighted how problems in aged care such as ineffective communication are ‘disappointing’
• The Aged Care Guide can help older Australians learn about advocacy and what to do if they are not getting appropriate aged care

Older Australians are turning to outside help to deal with aged care-related issues according to a newly released report. 

The Older Persons Advocacy Network recently released The National Aged Care Advocacy Program Presenting Issues Report about the key problems affecting older Australians in aged care who contacted the advocacy service in the last year. 

The most reported problems for aged care residents included poor communication from providers, not receiving enough information to make informed decisions regarding their care and having unresolved issues with equipment or assistive technology. 

An older person may choose to contact an advocacy service after they have unsuccessfully tried to address the problem with their provider. Getting assistance from an advocate means that they can receive additional support when confronting staff in challenging situations.

Older Persons Advocacy Network Chief Executive Officer Craig Gear commented on the impact of poor communication between aged care residents and their carers.

“It is disappointing to see that, yet again, people are struggling to have clear communication and information from their aged care providers,” he said.

“When a person isn’t given sufficient or consistent information by their frontline staff or service providers, they cannot exercise their right to influence decisions about their care and support.”

However, it’s not just aged care residents that have raised concerns about the quality of care provided in some aged care homes. 

In an ABC FourCorners investigation, aged care workers, enrolled nurses and personal carers highlighted issues in Australian aged care facilities including staffing shortages, limited support from families and poor nutrition in residents’ meals. 

Poor food quality and options concerns were also raised in the Older Persons Advocacy Network’s report, with some older Australians not being provided with food suited to their dietary requirements.

Maggie Beer, an Australian chef, created the Maggie Beer Foundation with free short modules for chefs and cooks working in aged care to highlight practical ways to provide nutritious and tasty meals when resources or time are limited including:

• Regeneration of Cooked Chilled Foods;
• Feed the Eyes: Food Presentation; and
• Delivering Higher Protein All Day.

Additionally, the Aged Care Guide has information guides to help older people understand what it means to have dignity in the dining room and improve aged care nutrition and food in aged care.

However, in the new Aged Care Act, strengthened quality standards related to food and nutrition are expected to increase the quality of food and the experience in aged care dining facilities for older Australians.

Mr Gear praised the government for upcoming reforms to the aged care sector but stressed the importance of speeding up the progress to ensure all older Australians receive appropriate aged care.

“The sector is undergoing complex change and additional oversights are being implemented to address many of these issues, but these reforms are slow and older people are telling us we need to move faster,” he said.

“The new Aged Care Act has the potential to improve many of the issues raised in our Presenting Issues report, but we remain concerned about the delay in implementation which is slated for July 1, 2025.

“We cannot delay the new Aged Care Act any longer. Every day we do, we are failing to meet the basic needs and rights of our older Australians.”

While he mentioned the timing of the upcoming Aged Care Act, Mr Gear also discussed how flexibility may be needed to ensure that older Australians still living at home receive the required care to improve their quality of life.

“When it comes to the Support at Home program, the [Aged Care] Act must provide for exception pathways so we aren’t forcing people to make a choice between a shower, or having their home cleaned,” he said.

One in six Australians are aged 65 years or older as per the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Older Australians who are searching for aged care services or homes may be unsure about what to consider when deciding on a nursing home. Choosing a nursing home now that can best suit your needs could reduce stress and problems later in life.

Staff members of a facility are the face of the home. They provide care and make sure your time in aged care is as comfortable as possible.

When visiting notice if the staff are friendly and warm when speaking with you — this can help you decide if you would feel comfortable communicating and receiving care from them.

If you have time during your tour, chat with some residents and see how they feel about the facility and what they like about it. There’s no better person to talk to about a nursing home than the people living there.

Call the Aged Care Guide support line on 1300 186 688 for more information about aged care homes and the printed guides with providers. 

However, if you find yourself in an aged care facility where your needs are not being met, read more about the role of advocacy in aged care.

Additionally, if this article has raised concerns about your aged care or you’d like extra support to advocate for yourself, call the Aged Care Advocacy Line on 1800 700 600 or visit the Older Persons Advocacy Network website.

What are the most important things you look for in an aged care home?

Let the team at Talking Aged Care know on social media. 

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