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BENDIGO'S federal member has called for action to improve the aged care sector, saying her office had received "damning" results to a survey.
Nearly all the 415 Bendigo residents responding to a survey run by Ms Chesters office called for changes to the aged care sector, such as minimum staffing levels, better training and a better surge workforce.
Survey respondents shared experiences of the aged care sector, including family members and friends being served inappropriate, inadequate or unhealthy food, a reluctance to call for medical care and waiting for hours to use the toilet.
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One woman said her mother was not offered physiotherapy after a hip surgery, suffered nine urinary tract infections and broke her leg in a fall.
Aged care workers spoke of low staff numbers and stressed staff.
Ms Chesters called on the federal government to act on the interim report from the Royal Commission into Aged care and start changing the system.
Delivered in October 2019, the interim royal commission report found aged care services were underfunded and poorly managed, detailing stories of neglect
Ms Chesters said she heard from people who were not receiving proper meals, left to their own devices, not taken to the toilet regularly and having falls in her own survey.
She said workers had spoken out to say there was just not enough of them rostered at aged care homes.
A Royal Commission hearing in Bendigo in March 2019 heard stories of broken bones ignored, people being left to sit in their own mess and a focus on profit.
Some speakers attributed their parents' death to the negligent care received.
Ms Chesters called for legislated minimum staffing levels for all aged care facilities, better training for aged care staff and
She said the Labor party was committed to reforms including minimum staffing, lower waiting lists, better staff training and better surge workforce if elected.
She said the for-profit aged care model clearly had a problem, which Labor planned to address.
But Ms Chesters said Labor could not commit to privatising it, as it was a complicated issue and the party's plan was for the immediate, first steps.
Ms Chesters said Labor's plan was for the first, immediate steps to take in the aged care sector.
- With AAP.
Earlier
MOST Bendigo residents want changes to the aged care sector such as minimum staffing, according to a survey conducted by federal member Lisa Chesters.
More than 90 per cent of respondents said they wanted minimum staffing levels in aged care facilities, better training for staff, lower waiting lists, and a better surge workforce.
The survey polled more than 415 people on their opinion regarding several aspects of the aged care system, including the federal government's response to the COVID-19 crisis.
Respondents detailed their own experiences in the survey results released by Ms Chesters.
They reference inappropriate and inadequate diets given to family members, low staff numbers inappropriate treatment and often long waits to use the toilet.
Ms Chesters' said in her conclusion that the government should take more action to keep older Australians safe in the aged care system.
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