Everyone’s responsibility
With the recent exposure of Oakden nursing home and the Four Corners stories, the focus has put all of the aged care industry under the spotlight and a lot of pressure. It has created fear and concern for all older members of the community, those currently in care, families and carers and for those currently working within the industry.
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The whole industry is now viewed the same regardless of all those that are doing the right thing, great things and working extra hard at all levels to provide the quality of care. Quality of care is a human right.
For all those doing this, it’s time to hold your head up and be proud of what you have done and are doing. For those that are not, hang your head and wear the shame you should.
The Royal Commission needs to occur to reveal the real transparency. It is a complicated and complex industry. For those working in it, the understanding of all aspects, good, bad and the many challenges.
After working in aged care for well over 25 years, it is not recognised or respected as the speciality Industry it should be. The staffing issues and funding system is the same as health. People are living longer and entering residential care a lot later with more complex and clinical issues. We need to provide the quality and level of care needed to support the needs required.
Although we need more staff ratios we don’t have mandatory staffing ratios nationally. We don’t have mandatory clinical staffing mix requirements either, for example the number of Registered Nurses or skill set mix.
Currently we have the majority of staff trained at a Certificate level III. This is not equipping staff with what they need to provide the reflected level of care required nor are we supporting these staff.
The variations of time with obtaining a Certificate level III are also open. A 14-week course on offer if you google, a six-month course leading into a 12-month course if you wish to complete your Diploma.
It’s not a well paid or respected industry. It is not viewed as speciality health.There is not the opportunities or access affordable and supported tiered training, structure or career path for many.
I recall being told before I left aged care in 2010 with an injury that despite all the endless training I pursued and did as personal self-development I was never a “real nurse”, or would be. This has always stuck in my mind as the lack of respect for the aged care industry, staff, recipients of the care and the families.
What is currently occurring is everyone’s responsibility, not one individual body, but everyone’s. To create change it needs a combined effort from grassroots up to the very top. Let’s bring back the respect of all older people and all those working with the right ethics and values to provide quality care.
Maria Berry, Huon
Best to leave the chicks
Spring is here again and the magpies are busy breeding.
Magpies are very protective parents, but at times they do leave their young on the ground while they go off to look for food.
Just a bit of advice that it is best to leave these chicks alone, as the parents will come back later. If necessary, the bird can be moved a short distance away from potential dangers, otherwise leave and observe is the best policy.
