Aged care report must not be ignored

Elder Family Matters is calling on the government to take up the Human Rights Commission’s recommendations on properly funding aged care, after it ignored other recent reports and its own election promises.

Human Rights Commission equal employment opportunities commissioner Judy McGregor will tomorrow release her Caring Counts report on the pay and conditions aged care workers work under.

Elder Family Matters general manager Lawrie Stewart welcomes the recommendations. “The report rightfully acknowledges the meagre sums too many of our aged care workers are paid and calls for greater value and appreciation of the work carers do in supporting our elderly to sustain satisfying lives.

“Unfortunately, the government has demonstrated indifference to the plight of aged care workers, ignoring similar reports from Grey Power, Labour and Greens in 2010 and the Auditor-General in 2011.

“The government has even ignored its own recommendations. It mooted a subsidised home-care model prior to being elected into power in 2008, but has made no attempt to do so since.”

Elder Family Matters is a Wellington-based in-home care provider. It pays its carers $17-$18 an hour, and assigns them to individuals clients, so they receive consistent support from compatible carer(s), says Mr Stewart.

“Even that rate is low for my liking. Unfortunately DHBs and many private companies are dragging down the entire industry with pay rates that are barely above the minimum wage.”

Mr Stewart says wages and the quality of care could be improved at little to no extra cost to the government.

“Currently the elderly are forced to either sign up for a small number of fully-subsidised care options through DHBs or pay it all themselves. By adopting a partially-subsided model the elderly can contribute to their own care and choose providers that offer high-quality support and pay their Carers a living wage.

“If we are to value our elderly, we must value the people who are dedicated to caring for them. It’s time the government rid itself of the ‘out of sight, out of mind’ attitude it has when it comes to the elderly. This is simply too important an issue for the government to once again push under the carpet.”

• Human Rights Commission Caring Counts report: http://www.neon.org.nz/agedcareinquiry/
• Grey Power, Labour and Greens report: http://www.labour.org.nz/sites/labour.org.nz/files/Aged%20Care%20Report.pdf
• Auditor-General report: http://www.oag.govt.nz/2011/home-based-support
• National’s in-home care election promise: http://www.national.org.nz/Article.aspx?ArticleID=11169

ENDS

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