The government and shame? Come off it! All governments these days are shameful, but they feel no shame. They are now yabbering about another tax, called a levy of course, to bleed taxpayers even more.

"Scrutiny" from the ABC and Guardian, and this bloke is just on another anti-Liberal crusade, throwing in "But also Labor" to appear balanced.

"Chronic social isolation". Who says so? And what if the elderly are isolated from the societal and threatening rubbish that exists today? It's a good thing. When sonny boy gets old himself, he will find it's good to be isolated from a society that doesn't like or want him. I went into voluntary isolation years ago, and it is a good thing to escape modern madness and mad people who want to run your life based on their limited experience and knowledge. People who want to put you in a nursing home to be neglected and abused or bashed, and who now want to give more money to the crooks running such dreadful institutions.

You want to help the elderly? Then give them the right and the means to end their lives with dignity when they choose to. That is a much better idea than having "activists", "parliamentarians" and "progressives" drawing out our lives cruelly and unnecessarily, the bastards. And, no more Royal Commissions stacked with people who don't have a clue what it is like to be old.

The criticism of Labor isn't only tokenistic ; In his last election Rudd refused extra resources to Aged Care in the leaders' debate.

Not all older people are in a rush to die so wealthy people and corporates can save money. The Netherlands spend twice as much as we do on Aged Care proportionately.

Social Isolation is a serious issue and can lead to depression and suicide.

I agree with the author, who sets out the problem and a solution in his essay. Care for our elders is a sign of respect and appreciation for what they have done for their children and grandchildren. The present mean incarceration of the elderly in privately-owned institutions, called 'homes', which treat them only as a source of profit, is a callous disrespect to our parents

"Social Isolation is a serious issue and can lead to depression and suicide".

Posted by Tristan Ewins, Tuesday, 9 March 2021 9:31:56 AM

Speak for yourself. Social inclusion and all it's ratbaggery is far more depressing than being left alone to live their own lives for many people. Current herd thinking and advice from people who THINK they know what they are talking about is the pits. This is why people, mainly the young, are topping themselves. There has never been more need to take a break from the "madding crowd" than there is now.

Rudd refused extra resources to Aged Care in the leaders' debate.
Tristan Ewins,
But he gave himself a $200,000/year pay rise !

Labor hasn't done well here in the past either ; but we'll have to judge the parties based on the policies they take to the next election. Breaking the effective bipartisan consensus 'to let the problems fester' is the beginning.

What ever Tristan got his PhD in it most certainly couldn't have been math. Other wise he couldn't make such ridiculous demands about spending. The same goes for the royal commissioners. There is no way we could afford even a small percentage of the money they want to spend.

We have recently learned just how ridiculous is the money we pay senior management of the NDIS, at over a million PA for some of them, & how much over the top the payments to some recipients really is.

The pension is reasonable compensation for people who paid taxes all their lives, but things like the excessive NDIS & Gonski are certainty Gillard's revenge on those who refused to love her, & long are we likely to suffer fir it.

So how is it the Dutch are able to spend twice as much proportionately on Aged Care than we do?

Tristan Ewins,
I suppose the Dutch have Centuries of culture behind them to help them be competent & less self-serving managers ! I wonder what percentage their Public Service is ?
My guess is nowhere near the 42 or so % it is here !

From what I see on a regular basis, the problem of profiteering by nursing homes in Au, can be addressed by competition.

The competition should be driven by the public hospital system, a state government enterprise.

I say this, since I’ve long observed nursing homes used by hospitals to rid themselves of the long term iIl patients.

The standard of care in a hospital is fundamentally superior to their nursing home cousins. That is the fault line to jerk the nursing home industry into gear, and would qualify for big spending Government infrastructure investments.

Nursing homes should be an on the sidelines enterprise only. Not as they are now, where there are no options available for the dying aged.

And speaking of nursing homes, where is Alan B and runner, conspicuous by their absence.

Dan

No idea on Runner, tongue in cheek it may have something to do with him finally being punished for his bigotry displayed here on OLO!

As for Alan, I suspect he probably succumbed to Thorium poisoning, eating far too many bananas most likely.

Seriously I hope they are both well, I too miss their zealous posts.
Galen

What about all the Chinese aged care facilities that are being built by the Chinese for the Chinese? Especially in Sydney - Australia's first Chinese city.

Dear diver dan,

Where's runner?

Oh come on mate. His last post was in a thread titled "Trump Tipped To Win Election" and on November the 4th.

Where do you think he is. Obviously in sulking. It was his president after all.