Mandated minimum staffing ratios in private aged care will easily fix many of the missed resident care issues highlighted by the aged care royal commission.
ANMF’s new national aged care campaign calls on the Morrison Government to mandate staff ratio laws in private aged care highlighting how residents’ pain management and nutritional needs are impacted by understaffing.
The ‘It’s not too much to ask’ campaign reveals how ratios would help residents who miss out on pain relief or mealtime assistance because there are not enough nurses and personal care workers.
The national and state television, radio, newspapers, outdoor and social media campaign began on 26 April to keep the spotlight on aged care in the lead up to the Morrison Government’s federal budget on 11 May.
Mobile billboards are travelling around the Victorian electorates of influential Morrison Government politicians – the Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg (Kooyong) and Federal Health and Aged Care Minister Greg Hunt (Flinders).
A billboard is also moving about Hotham, the electorate of Clare O’Neil, the Federal Shadow Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services.
The ‘It’s not too much’ campaign billboard outside Federal Health and Aged Care Minister Greg Hunt’s Flinders electorate office in Sommerville.
The ‘It’s not too much’ campaign billboard outside Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg’s Kooyong electorate office in Hawthorn East.
The ‘It’s not too much’ campaign billboard outside Federal Shadow Minister for Senior Australians and Aged care Services Clare O’Neil’s Hotham electorate office in Clayton.
ANMF (Vic Branch) Secretary Lisa Fitzpatrick said, ‘It’s not too much to ask that residents living in aged care have the dignity and comfort of basic care like meals, pain relief, wound management, a dry incontinence aid or being able to go to the bathroom.’
‘A bucket of money won’t fix aged care, the answer is reform in the shape of mandated staff ratio law.
‘Funding announcements are smoke and mirrors and doomed to disappoint if providers are not compelled to spend that money on extra staff for every morning, afternoon and night shift.
‘More nurses and personal care workers on every shift will mean more staff to care for residents,’ Ms Fitzpatrick said.
Despite additional billions given to providers during the COVID-19 pandemic, ANMF continues to fight private aged care providers cutting staff and cutting hours.
‘We know understaffing is significantly impacting residents and our members and ANMF will not give up until chronic understaffing in the sector is fixed,’ Ms Fitzpatrick said.
The Andrews Government has committed $40 million to help build the required workforce if the Morrison Government legislates ratios in private aged care. The Andrews Government also made the diploma of nursing free at TAFE since 2019.
Residential aged care providers receive about $20 billion a year to provide accommodation and services to approximately 200,000 Australians. Victoria has 157 public aged care facilities staffed in line with state ratio legislation and another 612 private and not-for-profit aged care facilities which are not bound by any staffing legislation or regulation.
How to support the campaign
Visit the ‘It’s not too much’ campaign website and donate some time to show your support for ratios on Twitter (two minutes), on Facebook (five minutes) or by emailing five influential politicians (seven minutes).
