Media Release: $3.8 MILLION FOR NEW BEDS AND EQUIPMENT IN NURSING HOMES

FROM THE MINISTER FOR AGED CARE

DATE: Sunday, March 14, 2004

$3.8 MILLION FOR NEW BEDS AND EQUIPMENT IN NURSING HOMES

Aged Care Minister, Gavin Jennings, today announced Victoria’s aged care residents would benefit from a $3.8 million investment to provide new electronic beds and equipment in state-owned nursing homes.

Mr Jennings said 97 residential aged care facilities would share funding to provide 1349 new electronic adjustable beds, and equipment such as lifting machines in nursing homes across the state.

“This significant Bracks Government investment will boost the quality of care for frail older residents by replacing ageing beds and providing modern beds with greater comfort and support,” Mr Jennings said.

“For nursing staff, it will ensure a safer working environment and a reduction in handling injuries caused by moving and lifting residents.

“The Bracks Government is the single largest nursing home provider in Victoria and is investing in improving equipment and capital infrastructure to give older people a better quality of life.”

The funding boost will provide 1242 high-low beds, which can be raised or lowered as needed to 60cm off the floor, and 107 low-low beds, which can be lowered to the ground.

Making the announcement at Boyne Russell House Nursing Home in Brunswick, Mr Jennings said Boyne Russell House would receive $47,250 for 21 hi-low beds.

Mr Jennings said the funding boost was in addition to $1.49 million allocated by the Bracks Government last year to replace ageing lifting equipment and beds.

“The Bracks Government provided $112.5 million to upgrade nursing homes during its first term in office and built on this with an additional $25.5 million in the 2003-04 State Budget,” he said.

“In stark contrast, the level of Commonwealth funding is poor and does not meet the basic operating and capital costs needed to run a modern nursing home.”

The Commonwealth is responsible for the licensing, regulation and funding of residential aged care services.

Mr Jennings said Victoria was around 4,090 operational beds short of the Commonwealth’s own planning benchmarks as of June 2003.

“The Commonwealth is massively under-funding aged care in Victoria and jeopardising the survival of nursing homes across the State,” Mr Jennings said.

“They must urgently boost funding to safeguard the future of Victorian nursing homes, and to give older Victorians the care they deserve.

“Victoria is being ripped off by the Commonwealth and has the largest shortfall of operational beds in Australia.

“In addition, the Prime Minister, John Howard, has not released the Commonwealth’s Review of Pricing Arrangements in Residential Aged Care (Hogan Report),” he said.

“The Commonwealth needs to stop hiding this report and invest significant funds in reforming the aged care system.”