The coronavirus has been described as a cunning and invisible enemy by virologists and politicians. They should know what it takes! As its genetic code compels it to continually reproduce to survive, the virus effectively seeks out whatever opportunity it ...
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Aged care is in crisis and we don’t really care: opinion
All of us know aged care is in crisis. The problem is we don’t really care. Harsh? Perhaps. But it’s an easily testable proposition. So that’s what Catholic Health Australia did during last month’s Eden-Monaro by-election. When we polled voters ...
More »The tale of two systems: The overlap between NDIS and aged care
Amidst myriad issues affecting aged care providers in 2020 one matter that has somewhat stayed under the radar is the overlap of NDIS regulation with the aged care system – in particular for residential aged care operators. The NDIS and ...
More »‘I see myself as Switzerland’: new workforce council CEO vows to avoid politics and effect change
Last January, the various aged care peak bodies announced the formation of an industry group dedicated to leading the sector’s workforce strategy. The Aged Care Workforce Industry Council was recommended by the Aged Care Workforce Strategy Taskforce’s report A matter of ...
More »Can we look forward to much better post-COVID residential aged care?
The virus has certainly opened up a tantalising debate for residential aged care to stop locking people away and do what it takes to maximise frail lives. Not surprising when we look at how, even in a time of extraordinary ...
More »Retention bonus causing more harm than good?
The aged care worker retention bonus announced by the government in March has not gone down as well as Richard Colbeck might have imagined. Originally it was announced as a payment of up to $800 after tax per quarter – ...
More »Simply ‘unprecedented’: Can we continue with the same old, same old?
Before going further, I’d like to join with others to offer my gratitude and praise to those who have worked with older clients through the COVID-19 pandemic. Your vital contribution has been, and continues to be, way beyond important. Nurses, ...
More »Over-prescription of antipsychotics without consent needs to stop: experts
Drugs prescribed to change behaviours in aged care residents are being misused and prescribed for longer than government guidelines allow. Researchers from the Dementia Centre for Research Collaboration (DCRC) and the Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA) at UNSW Sydney, ...
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