OLDER AUSTRALIANS LEFT OUT IN THE COLD
The Member for Berowra, Philip Ruddock MP said today that the delay in announcing the 2008 Aged Care Assessment Round was unacceptable and was putting older residents at risk.
“We are well into the second half of the year and the Minister has not yet announced the commencement of the 2008 Aged Care Assessment Round which will affect the aged in my electorate,” Mr Ruddock said.
“The process is usually well underway by this stage but the Minister has dragged her feet which is nothing short of negligent.
“Must the Minister be reminded that aged care facilities in my electorate are concerned about the welfare of older Australians?
“The process is months behind schedule and the delay are having dire consequences on frail and elderly people.
“The queues of older Australians who are waiting to access aged care beds and aged care packages are getting longer and longer and this chronic shortage of beds has come about because older Australians are not a priority of the Ministers.
“This treatment of older Australians is unacceptable and I call on the Minister to commence the Aged Care Approval Round urgently,” Philip Ruddock said.