Aged Care Minister heeds Sunraysia call for help

AGED Care Minister Richard Colbeck has promised a trip to Sunraysia after a cry for help from local residential facilities.

Member for Mallee Anne Webster met Minister Colbeck at the beginning of the month on behalf of five not-for-profit centres in Sunraysia.

Sunraysia Daily previously reported those five centres had budgeted for a collective loss of $1.18 million this financial year.

Dr Webster said the Minister had planned to visit to Mildura in April.

“Minister Colbeck was aware of many of the issues I raised with him and confronting Aged Care providers,” she said.

“At my request he has agreed to come to Mallee and meet with providers and we are organising that visit.”

The centres have listed a broken funding model, budget cuts and a delay in Royal Commission findings as key issues in the sector.

Aged care was recently targeted in the COVID-19 response stimulus package, with the Morrison Government on Thursday last week announcing a $101.2 million funding boost.

The funding is aimed at upskilling and boosting staff numbers as well as infection control and tele-health services for the vulnerable cohort.

Chaffey Aged Care chief executive Darren Midgley said the funding was welcomed, but he wasn’t sure it would be enough.

“I guess it will (help). We are still waiting to hear further details of the package,” he said.

“It’s focus is on upskilling staff, which is great but it does take time.

“We need an injection of cash much quicker.”

Mr Midgley said he was looking forward to Minister Colbeck’s visit.

More restrictions

FURTHER restrictions were announced by the Morrison government on Wednesday, restricting visits to aged care to reduce the threat of COVID-19.

Limits include one visit per resident per day, with a maximum of two people per visit.

People who have been in overseas within a fortnight, or in contact with someone with the virus would be banned from visiting aged care facilities.

Chaffey Aged Care chief executive Darren Midgley said the centre had been expecting these changes to be made.

“I think it’s a very good idea in terms of social distancing,” he said.

“It’s not going to fix it, but it will help in flattening the curve.

“We would need to look at provisions for certain circumstances, such as family members needing to say goodbye.”

Mr Midgley said the centre had already been assessing it’s procedures in the lead-up to Wednesday’s announcement.

“We have put in place our action plans now with a number of vulnerable residents with complex health issues to consider,” he said.