The nation's peak dentistry body has called for an overhaul of aged care quality standards to address the 'dire' oral health of older Australians. According to the the Australian Dental Association (ADA), one in three older adults have untreated tooth ...
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Aged care to headline in 2022 federal election
With the federal election date set, aged care is looking likely to play in a crucial role in each party's campaign, elevating calls from advocates to commit to sector wide reform. Announcing a May 21 poll, prime minister Scott Morrison ...
More »Thousands hit by delay to $400 bonus
More than half of the country’s aged care workers are yet to receive their first $400 cash bonus from the government, almost two months after it was first announced. In early February, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced eligible workers would be given two ...
More »Watchdog reports increased complaints
Staffing levels, medication management and personal hygiene were the most frequently complained about issues in residential care homes towards the end of last year. Between October and September 2021, a total of 1,639 complaints were lodged against 550 residential care ...
More »Push for ‘winter boosters’ and flu vaccines in aged care homes as COVID-19 cases surge
An epidemiology expert is urging older people to get their flu shot and winter booster after a 36 per cent increase in COVID-19 cases in aged care homes this week. As of 31 March, there have been 658 active outbreaks ...
More »Some providers spending $6 a day on food: report
Almost a third of Australian aged care facilities spend less than 10 dollars a day on residents' meals, new data has shown, reviving calls for greater transparency around food spending. Of the 2,600 aged care facilities which self-reported food data ...
More »2022 Budget: Training boost for workers but no wage increase
Tuesday’s federal budget directed $49.5 million dollars to training for aged care workers despite repeated industry calls to increase wages. The Morrison Government's total forecast spending on aged care for 2022-23 has increased by less than 1 per cent compared ...
More »Redefining ‘healthy longevity’ – quality sleep may prevent onset of Alzheimer’s
Two gene mutations associated with the Familial Natural Short Sleep phenomenon (FNSS) could be linked to stalling Alzheimer’s Disease. People with FNSS, who need to sleep only four to six hours a night, developed fewer hallmarks associated with Alzheimer’s, University ...
More »Aged care workers waiting on bonus, strike action planned: UWU
A survey of 1000 aged care workers conducted by the United Workers Union has found that 97 per cent of respondents are yet to receive the promised $800 bonus for their efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic. The union said many ...
More »Lack of faith in aged care still haunts older Australians
Almost half of older people are reluctant to go into residential care due to fear of being mistreated or isolated, a new survey shows. Recent research from the National Ageing Research Institute (NARI) asked close to 300 Victorians aged over 65 what ...
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