Vulnerable left to fend for selves
Spare a thought for our seniors and people with disabilities over the past two years of COVID. The mental and physical health of our most vulnerable has taken a massive toll.
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The systems that are meant to support and protect them have failed on many fronts.
From allowing over 650 to die in Victorian aged care facilities last year to having tough home lockdown restrictions for people with disabilities and seniors over 70.
It has been the worst period in many peoples' lives - cut off from family and friends, many have developed depression and anxiety issues.
They have not been supported properly, the list is huge.
Many don't have modern IT systems such as mobile phones and computers and couldn't download cross-border permits, COVID certificates etc.
No transport was offered to take our most vulnerable to essential appointments in regional cities. Surgeries were put on hold; waiting lists have blown right out, the sick get sicker.
Governments and their service providers need to be held accountable for what has happened and continues to happen every day.
The home care provider system is one of the worst hit, many providers aren't delivering after people have waited years for their home care package.
Even when you have the top level 4 home care package and trying to care for terminally ill loved ones at home, the services either aren't there or are inadequate.
Furthermore, you are charged higher fees because they know you have a package.
One of the biggest problems is attracting and keeping home care assistants. These people do incredibly hard work for $23 per hour.
Their visit is often the only person the client sees, especially during lockdown periods.
These assistants get burnt out physically and mentally trying to service a wide range of clients, many of whom have deteriorated greatly.
In our region, one large home provider had their three care consultants leave by mid-May and the newest recruit only started home visits in late November.
Yet each month, high fees were taken out of the home care packages for this service. Clients are being left to fend for themselves.
With government elections looming, it is time for the community to make it very clear that despite many Royal Commissions and Inquiries the gap has increased for our most vulnerable.
Our loved ones are being used and abused by systems that are meant to give them a reasonable quality of life.
It certainly won't be a Merry Christmas for many.
Christine Stewart, Beechworth
Thinking much bigger
The talk of Albury being a regional centre by new councillors is great, and making it with Wodonga has been long awaited and will lift the region no end.
We could take that idea further and make Albury-Wodonga the gateway to the alps, the fine wineries of Rutherglen and the fascinating historic towns in our area.
Let's see the planned new hospital be a regional hospital, and located to be just that.
Let's get past the "Albury central" culture.
It would be great to see a Rutherglen wine bar located at the Entertainment Centre.
Stuart Davie, Corowa
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