CEO's Update

As this edition of 50 Something goes to print, the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety is in its second week of hearings in Adelaide.Already, the Commission has heard from representatives of advocacy groups; aged care providers; government departments and regulators; professional groups and unions; and family members of aged care residents.It opened, appropriately, with evidence from the woman who blew the whistle on abuse of dementia patients at Adelaide’s infamous Oakden nursing home.Barbara Spriggs’ husband Bob died in 2016 after being mistreated and overmedicated at Oakden.She questioned why her concerns were downplayed or ignored for so long.

Dementia is the second leading cause of death among Australians

Mr Spriggs was reportedly given 10 times the amount of his prescribed medication and left with unexplained bruises while staying at the Oakden nursing home.I was a witness on day one of the hearings and informed the Commission about the cases you had reported to us.We’ve been told about some dreadful examples of older and frail aged care residents with dementia being physically abused by care workers who clearly have no idea how to respond to what they believe is ‘bad behaviour’.I stressed that dementia is the second leading cause of death among Australians and requires specialist care. But surprisingly – or perhaps

shockingly – aged care workers in Australia are not required to be trained in the disease or in caring for people with it.Based on your statements in our research last year, National Seniors called for mandatory dementia training for all aged care workers. This abuse will continue if there isn’t better understanding of dementia.We have the means to prevent this happening, and to make life much better for care recipients – and caregivers. So, it’s high time to make this training compulsory.Training will lift the professionalism of the aged care workforce by delivering the skills and understanding necessary to provide quality care and improve the experiences of people in care and their carers.National Seniors wasn’t alone in its calls for mandatory dementia education for aged care workers, with Dementia Australia CEO Maree McCabe also telling the commission it was a necessity.“Aged care is complex, and this Royal Commission is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform the industry to make a profound and lasting difference to the lives of all people impacted by dementia, she said.Again, based on what you told us in our surveys, I also stressed the urgent need to remove the 126,000 people waiting for home care packages.Finally, I raised the issue of respect for older Australians, which is a feature later in this issue.You can follow the Commission through our comments in the media and on our website nationalseniors.com.au/RoyalCommission. Our full submission to the Commission can be found at the same address. ■

Have your say

The Royal Commission comes on the back of multiple enquiries, reviews and reports into aged care over the past 20 years that have failed to ensure the care older Australians deserve.It will deliver an interim report by 31 October this year, and a final report by 30 April 2020.

It has announced 15 scheduled hearing weeks between now and mid-December, in all capital cities and a number of regional locations. The location of each hearing will be announced progressively on the Royal Commission website during the year as arrangements are finalised.

Community forums will be another way that members of the public can engage

with the commission. The first two forums have been announced for 1 March 2019 at Bankstown Sports Club and 5 March at Bendigo Town Hall.Full details about the commission hearings and forums, and how to make a submission, are available at https:// agedcare.royalcommission.gov.au.