Aged care matters Serious problems existing in the aged care sector have been exposed and amplified by the COVID-19 crisis, and major cracks in the system are now on public display via news media and the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. It has long been recognised that aged care services for groups with ‘diverse needs’ – such as care leavers – require particular attention and advocacy. There has never been a better time to progress this advocacy and shine a light on the specific challenges faced by many care leavers as they navigate the aged care maze. Although the COVID crisis may have disrupted progress with the face-to-face community education program coordinated by Tuart Place Social Worker Jan Newman, significant activity has continued behind the scenes.
Tuart Place’s submission to the Aged Care Royal Commission has just been published on the Commission’s website, and can be downloaded at: https://agedcare.royalcommission.gov.au/media/28409 The submission, prepared by Margo O’Byrne and Dale Lynch in consultation with fellow care leavers and Tuart Place staff, powerfully conveys the lived experience of people who experienced trauma and abuse in institutional care during childhood, who now have legitimate concerns about how well they will be treated in aged care. These concerns are not unique to WA, and are reflected in the work of other agencies and advocates across Australia, who are similarly involved with improving aged and community care options for care leavers.
Real care the Second Time Around Over 500,000 children spent their childhood in institutional and out-of-home care in the last century. These are our Forgotten Australians/Care Leavers. Many of these children were sexually, physically and emotionally abused. Their time in ‘care’ has impacted their adulthood and most suffer from PTSD and other chronic health conditions. These now older adults, understandably, might wonder if their experiences of aged care are going to be any better than the abuse and neglect they suffered as children. Will they receive the care they need, the second time around? The Real Care the Second Time Around booklet, produced by South Australian non-for-profit organisation Helping Hand Aged Care, is designed to help aged care providers respond and support the needs of Forgotten Australians/Care Leavers, former child migrants and members of the Stolen Generations.
The booklet was developed with a group of Forgotten Australians/Care Leavers and has been circulated widely throughout the aged care sector. It is available to download from the Helping Hand website: https://www.helpinghand.org.au/wpcontent/uploads/2019/01/PositioningStatement-Forgotten-Australians.pdf Helping Hand Program Manager, Fran Lovell and Project Officer, Meg Schwarz, who identifies as a Care Leaver, are passionate about sharing information about the project with other aged care providers. Meg said: “So much information has come from this group to support the project to deliver its project objectives. We look forward to sharing some of the outcomes from the project in the future”. PHOTO: Helping Hand Aged Care Program Manager, Fran Lovell, and Project Officer, Meg Schwarz.
Advocare: Power, respect and informed choice for older people
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Advocare is an independent, community-based, not-for-profit organisation that supports and protects the rights of older people in Western Australia through information, advocacy and education. Advocare assists older West Australians to understand their rights, to make informed choices, and to resolve any issues they have with aged and home care service provision. A scheduled presentation by Advocare at Tuart Place earlier this year was postponed due to the COVID-19 shutdown, but Advocare’s Taryn Dallas Haynes and Tuart Place social worker Jan Newman have stayed in touch. Taryn is keen
to visit once Tuart Place is open again for group activities. Taryn writes: Do you need support to access aged care services? Have you tried before and have not been successful? Do you feel overwhelmed at the thought of the aged care application process required by My Aged Care? Advocare can help. Advocare is participating in the National Aged Care Navigation Trial to assist people aged 65+ (and Aboriginal people aged 50+) who want help to understand, choose and access aged care services.
