Fr Bob Maguire and co-radio partner John Safran were recently enlisted to be the public face of THE GRAND PLAN.
The Grand Plan maps out the need for older people to have a greater choice in services; improved access to quality care wherever they live. The Grand Plan is about Grand people – older people who are important people in our lives for a whole lot of reasons: as mentors, relatives, heroes.
The Grand Plan is about believing that we are all entitled to live with dignity and in comfort as we get older. The Grand Plan sees a partnership with Australian governments to ensure this entitlement, and to address the needs of older people.
Comprising eleven national organisations providing community and residential care and housing for older people, they have joined together to campaign for improved services for older Australians. The overarching objective is to ensure that the Australian Government implements changes to the aged care and health systems to ensure sustainable, effective services that give older people and their families’ greater choice of, and access to, care.
“Our Grand Plan is for everyone, including the government and opposition parties, to play a role in reforming aged care and celebrating the lives of older people – the people who made Australia great.” said Mr Mundy CCOA.
An online survey undertaken by CCOA to launch The Grand Plan found that more Australians are concerned about aged care than they are about employment, education and the environment.
The poll revealed that aged care was not just a worry for older people, with men and women of all ages acknowledging that it rated ahead of employment, education and the environment as an area of greatest concern; 91 per cent of respondents agreed aged care should be an entitlement; 96 per cent supported increased government funding; and 95 per cent agreed that those who can’t afford to pay should receive additional assistance.
The Campaign for Care of Older Australians (CCOA) is a new and unique group that comprises 11 national organisations providing community and residential care and housing. CCOA has devised a Grand Plan with a new vision for caring for older Australians.
What Can You do to Help?
You can show your support for the Grand Plan by going to their website www.thegrandplan.com.au and sending a postcard to your someone grand.
You can show additional support on the website by writing a letter to your MP, whilst sending a special card to your grand person which the Grand Plan will deliver to them.
You can pay tribute to your grand person in words and pictures on the Facebook page
You can sign up to the Twitter link and get your friends, family, politicians talking about the Grand Plan, about Grand people.
You can make the Grand Plan a grand achievement, just by taking part.
RJM
Fr Bob Maguire and co-radio partner John Safran were recently enlisted to be the public face of THE GRAND PLAN.
The Grand Plan maps out the need for older people to have a greater choice in services; improved access to quality care wherever they live. The Grand Plan is about Grand people – older people who are important people in our lives for a whole lot of reasons: as mentors, relatives, heroes.
The Grand Plan is about believing that we are all entitled to live with dignity and in comfort as we get older. The Grand Plan sees a partnership with Australian governments to ensure this entitlement, and to address the needs of older people.
Comprising eleven national organisations providing community and residential care and housing for older people, they have joined together to campaign for improved services for older Australians. The overarching objective is to ensure that the Australian Government implements changes to the aged care and health systems to ensure sustainable, effective services that give older people and their families’ greater choice of, and access to, care.
“Our Grand Plan is for everyone, including the government and opposition parties, to play a role in reforming aged care and celebrating the lives of older people – the people who made Australia great.” said Mr Mundy CCOA.
An online survey undertaken by CCOA to launch The Grand Plan found that more Australians are concerned about aged care than they are about employment, education and the environment.
The poll revealed that aged care was not just a worry for older people, with men and women of all ages acknowledging that it rated ahead of employment, education and the environment as an area of greatest concern; 91 per cent of respondents agreed aged care should be an entitlement; 96 per cent supported increased government funding; and 95 per cent agreed that those who can’t afford to pay should receive additional assistance.
The Campaign for Care of Older Australians (CCOA) is a new and unique group that comprises 11 national organisations providing community and residential care and housing. CCOA has devised a Grand Plan with a new vision for caring for older Australians.
What Can You do to Help?
You can show your support for the Grand Plan by going to their website www.thegrandplan.com.au and sending a postcard to your someone grand.
You can show additional support on the website by writing a letter to your MP, whilst sending a special card to your grand person which the Grand Plan will deliver to them.
You can pay tribute to your grand person in words and pictures on the Facebook page
You can sign up to the Twitter link and get your friends, family, politicians talking about the Grand Plan, about Grand people.
You can make the Grand Plan a grand achievement, just by taking part.
RJM
Having worked in the Aged care sector for many years I have seen the many flaws that go along with any systems. Basically the aged care sector is underfunded under stresss and workers under recognised.
How can we expect people to work in a industry that pays personal carers $16.00 an hour and rarely has defined hours and no union support.
Thank you Father Bob for bringing this issue to the attention of the public
Hi i am a nurse and I work in age care.I find it appauling.In some age care facilitys that I have worked.only employ the miniumn of staff.I see a high turn over in staff in some age care facilitys Nurses are over worked.I have heard many staff members say they have not been for any meal breaks.At times you find it difficult even for a toilet break.
How can we look after our elderly whom have built this great country. If we can not provide the right quota of staff to look after them. Give age care nurses more incentives.They are the hardest working group.
All the years of working and raising a family and doing community work. I hope in my twiglight years the government can get it right..Everybody get behind the the granplan now!!!!.One day we all will be elderly.Dont forget we are all getting older by the minute.
aggie curcuruto
Hell Aggie,
Yes, if there was adequate funding provided for aged care, coming from Federal Gov’t and care recipients own assets (or family), most aged care providers would only be too happy to employ more staff. Staff costs swallow up some 70-75% of all nursing home income and with costs rising by 3.4% CPI in WA over past 12 months, little wonder we are struggling to make the Fed Gov’ts 1.7% increase go anywhere? I would like to see the PM or Treasurer or Minister explain how the maths work?
Meanwhile, Nurses and Carers are unsung heroes, quite achievers and God Bless each one for their care. Same to all the other support staff and volunteers who make the residents life a whole lot better. Good onya Father Bob & JS for picking up the cause.
Hell was meant to be “Hello”
I agree Aggie. There is not enough care staff to fulfill duties that are required to look after the aged in nursing homes. It sickens me that this is happening. I worked in a nursing home for the past two and a half years, on so many occasions there where staff shortage. The resisdents then suffer they’re needs aren’t met, and for me alot of guilt came with this. Over-worked and exhaustion follows.
Something needs to be done.
Why do they need to spend so many millions on new years eve fireworks and not on the health care system.
Hi Father Bob,
My name is Jeanette and i’d like to tell you it’s a GREAT thing that yourself and John Saffron are doing.
It’s an odd world we live in..as in the way people think these days,out with the old and in with the new.My family are aged care nurses and i hear the sad stories of abandonment,or some poor old bugger with no kids or living family.These are the people who have worked harder for their money with none of the benifits along the way as we know these benifits didn’t exist.It deeply disturbs me that a large number of underage women and uneducated women can sit at home and be paid to breed (around $8.000) a generation of centerlink dependents as are a large number of the parents.That may sound harsh but i think our government should be turning the hand out money around,handing out cash to the oldies and free education,trade skills,uni,tafe. We are just making for a dumber country not looking after the true knowlodge and history of Australia..our golden oldies!
I can rant on and on because this is a subject that is so frustrating to me,im not in politics so i don’t know how things are planned but i would of thought our “respect our elders” saying,should go without saying and be high on the list.
You and John are 2 people who all ages of people listen too agree and respect.Good move on whoevers part it was to pull you guys in “you can do it”.I wish you where my poppy Father bob!
The Grand Plan needs the support of programs such as service-learning being adopted in all Australian schools.
The Rudd-Gillard Gov’t have neglected Australia’s elderly, failing to take the initiative to reform aged care to ensure that the nation’s frail aged can access a choice of quality residential and community care options; and aged care providers are adequately resourced to sustain the growth required for our ageing population. Instead they have wasted $millions on many half baked ideas and spent a good part of their first term trying to fix up the problems they created. We demand less spin and more substance with aged care reform from the next elected Gov’t
keep up the good work farther bob
Dear Father Bob,
Thanks for this important post. I’ve been tweeting about aged care for some time now. I serve on the board of Braemar Presbyterian Care in WA (wwww.braemar.org.au) and can tell you it’s sort of lonely out there in the Twitterverse for us aged care warriors. I use #agedcare on all my tweets and encourage you and your readers to do the same. I tweet under @globalcopywrite. I’m still “Getting Up, Standing Up”!