AGED CARE FACILITIES IN THE NEWS

Aged care facilities are in the news because many are privately owned, are making vast profits,and providing reduced services with less staff and less support.

My partner is 93 and I am 89. We are very fortunate. We own our home and our illnesses at our advanced years have not required us to be hospitalised for any length of time, despite the seriousness of some of the problems.

We do not own a car and are still able to do most things on our own without requiring much assistance, although a very good friend who has a car helps us with shopping twice a week to do the heavy shopping.

We are determined to stay out of those institutions till the end as far as is humanly possible.

Everybody reading about some of what goes on in some of these institutions would be scared out of their wits at the thought of ending their days in one of them or having to be incarcerated in them at all.

We have been fortunate with our health care providers and also with our health in general and we anticipate continuing to help each other as long as possible without being institutionalised.

No doubt many aged care facilities are excellent with outstanding services, but publicity about some rogue operators perpetrating appalling control does not inspire confidence.

We hope to be able to talk about the issue until a happier outcome is achieved for all requiring aged care in an ever ageing population.