Who will design the future of aged care?
ANGLICARE Sydney’s CEO, Peter Kell, today spoke out against the neglect of ageing as part of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s 2020 conference initiative.
“ANGLICARE wants to encourage the Rudd Government to make aged care a priority issue and undertake the reforms that are necessary to make it viable for service providers.
“Inadequate recurrent funding increases in the past, mean that it has become more and more difficult to meet the care needs of increasingly frailer residents,” Mr Kell said.
“In addition, the absence of accommodation bonds in high care has meant providers have been denied the opportunity to generate capital with which to develop new facilities.”
Mr Kell said early signs from the Rudd Government were not promising, with ageing and aged care especially, not being included as part of the Prime Minister’s proposed 2020 conference initiative.
“The Rudd Government needs to demonstrate that it has what its predecessors didn’t have – the courage to take on the difficult issues of aged care reform.”
Mr Kell’s comments were made at the unveiling of ANGLICARE Sydney’s new, integrated strategy for its residential and community aged care services under the name ‘Chesalon Living’.
To date the name ‘Chesalon’ has been synonymous with professional care for the very frail with high support needs, according to Mr Kell, but in order to remain viable and relevant in meeting the emerging requirements and needs of older Australians, ANGLICARE is expanding into new categories of care.
“By incorporating low care, extra-services high care, assisted and independent living units into new residential developments along with space for respite, community and day centre programs, we can afford to re-develop outdated facilities and provide new facilities in those parts of greater Sydney where there is a growing need,” he said.
Unique focus
Mr Kell said ANGLICARE Sydney would retain its mission focus through Chesalon Living. “It is this focus which has led us as a church-based, not-for-profit organisation to innovate in the provision of aged care – first establishing services in response to a need and subsequently demonstrating our case to governments,” Mr Kell said.
“Our business plan has specific goals for caring for people with disabilities who are ageing and for caring for the adult disabled children of ageing parents.
“We also have a strong desire to see married couples kept together rather than separated should they need aged care.
“These goals stem from our vision to strengthen and build inclusive communities, rather than aiding the trend toward isolation of older people from the support networks of family, community and faith,” he said.
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ANGLICARE Sydney currently operates six residential aged care facilities under Chesalon Living, with one more at Jannali under-going redevelopment. It runs seven Day Centres providing enriching activities and social support to those with dementia and is providing inhome community care across the Sydney Diocese from the Illawarra to South East Sydney, Northern Sydney and the Nepean Regions.
For further comment: Peter Kell, CEO ANGLICARE Sydney on 0402 849 010 and Rob Evers, Director Chesalon Living on 0421 586 215. Media contact: Leonie Savage on 0411 779 337.
