Feedback from sessions organised by COTA Victoria suggest that older Victorians are feeling positive about the opportunity to participate in the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.
COTA hosted its first session about the Royal Commission in February, followed by a submission writing workshop in March and a second workshop earlier this month, hosted in collaboration with the City of Darebin.
Issues of concern raised by participants included:
- the complexity of the aged care system
- insufficient levels of care being provided for older people when they need it due to high administrative costs
- poorly trained staff
- inadequate staff/patient ratios
- long waiting times for people wishing to access home care.
Older people, their family and friends also expressed concerns about making complaints, for fear of retribution against the older person receiving care. This was particularly apparent for older people from diverse cultural backgrounds.
Despite this, workshop participants had much to say about the aged care system and were keen to contribute to table discussions about their concerns and suggestions on ways to make ageing in Australia a more positive experience.
‘There is a negative perception of ageing [in Australia]. People feel like a burden and there is a lack of respect,’ one participant said. ‘We want to be treated as individuals, with respect and dignity.’
COTA has produced a number of resources to assist people in making a submission, which can be found via links on our website’s Royal Commission into Aged Care page.
COTA is collaborating with the Disability Advocacy Resource Unit to host an event at the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre in Melbourne on Friday, 3 May, from 11am–3pm. For more information download the flyer. You can register for this event here, including to watch via live streaming.
Following this, COTA is collaborating with the Southern Migrant and Refugee Centre to host an event on Monday, 6 May, from 10am–12pm, at Dandenong. For more information download the flyer , or book your spot by phoning 9767 1927. Interpreters can be arranged for free with prior notice.
Sessions are currently being organised for Warrnambool, Ballarat and the Bellarine Peninsula, with each event being adapted to the needs of the older participants. For more information on COTA’s royal commission activities, email: agedcareroyalcom@cotavic.org.au or phone 9655 2100.