#security

Financial abuse in residential care

/ trinaopso

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Last year, in a joint ABC-Fairfax investigation, residents of the multi-billion-dollar retirement village industry described buying into a retirement village – even ones that were linked to aged care facilities – had been an unwanted “financial sinkhole”.

This report looks specifically how one of the nation’s largest aged care providers, Aveo, had been exploiting elderly residents of its villages.

The company’s alarming business practices included safety issues, misleading during its marketing, advertising and property sale and lease processes. The company’s legalistic sales contracts were described by some lawyers as “complex” and “draconian”.

Conversation starter

Have you or a loved one experienced financial abuse by an aged care provider? What happened in this instance? Were you or your family able to negotiate a fairer outcome with the provider? Had any contracts been viewed by an independent lawyer prior to signing? Was the matter reported to any authority? What was the eventual outcome?

Have your say on aged care-2

Personal safety and security

/ trinaopso

P-safety-B&W-elderly-gent-walking-with-cane

Families, carers and residents often chose a particular aged care facility because they were assured of the steps it takes to ensure personal safety and security.

Increasingly, though, reports have emerged of insecure facilities, poor background checks and other residents with problematic behaviours.

One NSW centre last year failed a number of the Australian Aged Care Quality Agency’s key benchmarks, including staff working without criminal history checks, residents right to privacy not being respected, under-resourced cleaning and catering teams and repairs not being promptly addressed.

Conversation starter

Have you or a loved one felt that personal safety or security was less than anticipated in an aged care facility? What were your experiences? Was the matter raised with the facility’s management or an external body? If it was a serious incident, were police notified? Was a formal complaint lodged? What was the outcome or consequences?

Have your say on aged care-2