What industry is never punished if it advertises and is paid for services it can't provide? The aged care provider industry. This lack of scrutiny or penalty has become a crisis, made worse by the disorganisation in the Department of Health Disability and Aging, and as the toothless Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission.
According to state and territory public hospital data recently reported by the ABC, there are almost 3300 elderly Australians in hospitals unable to go home because care can't be arranged, nor are there nursing home beds.
Very few of those wish, or need, nursing home care. Until the aged care provider system is radically overhauled, this year's 35 per cent increase in patients unable to leave hospital is likely to continue to increase exponentially.
