Elderly being thrown to the dogs
There is a growing crisis in aged care. In the last three-and-a-half years, 835 Victorian beds have disappeared due to closure and privatisation. This includes 138 beds in homes where staff provide specialised care to residents with mental illnesses.
The closures continue. In early October, a mentally ill elderly woman was dragged kicking and screaming from her home in South Stone Lodge aged mental health facility in Werribee, 30 minutes west of Melbourne. Melbourne Health, the facility’s owner, plans to close the 30-bed residence.
“She knew that she was being removed from her home”, said Jaimie Taunoa, a volunteer bus driver at the facility, speaking to Red Flag at a union rally against the closures. “Two days afterwards, that lady suffered from a stroke. I strongly believe it was from total anxiety, total stress.”
The closure of South Stone would be devastating for its residents, forcing them into public facilities where their needs cannot be met. Alternatively, they will be in limbo, unable to afford the specialised care that, often, only the private sector has the resources to provide.
Jaimie’s father lives at South Stone. He was removed from regular aged care facilities as a result of problems with aggression caused by an illness.
Melbourne Health says that residents like Jaimie’s father will receive adequate care in the mainstream system. This is a lie designed to cover their real motive – the pursuit of profit.
“I had a psychiatric assessment with my dad with [Melbourne Health] eight weeks ago. I was told ‘There is no way your father is going to be ready for mainstream for a long while yet.’ All of a sudden, we’re selling [South Stone] and my dad’s fine to go into mainstream.”
Melbourne Health’s stated vision, according to Robert Doyle, Liberal Melbourne mayor and chairman of the company’s board, is “Passion for caring – achieving the extraordinary”. If it is profitable, this clearly becomes a “passion” for throwing the most sick and vulnerable people to the dogs.
