FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PUTTING OLDER CONSTITUENTS AT RISK NEGLECTING DENTAL CARE
The Member for Berowra, Philip Ruddock MP is disappointed at the lack of action by the Federal government neglecting frail and vulnerable older Australians particularly in his own electorate.
“In the electorate of Berowra there are approximately 13,380 constituents over the age of 70 years of age and following media reports it shows older Australians’ health being put at serious risk because of rotting teeth,” Mr Ruddock said.
“It is not acceptable that the Federal government has not intervened immediately and directed the Department of Health to investigate aged care facilities as a matter of urgency and needs to be investigated.
“The Federal government must act in particular to look after those people less fortunate who cannot afford private health cover particularly those in residential aged care. The decay and neglect of teeth often risks early death.
“To meet accreditation standards, aged care services must provide a high quality of personal care to every resident. This clearly has not happened and there’s a serious breakdown in the system which needs to be investigated.
“Poor oral health has been linked to poor general health, heart disease, stroke and in some cases pneumonia.
“The Rudd Government has attempted to roll the Medicare Dental Scheme which deals with chronic and complex dental health problems and it is vital that the Rudd government stand up and support the scheme so that older Australians with chronic dental problems can continue to receive the oral health care they need,” Philip Ruddock said.