Cakers, I can certainly feel your pain! I was an Aged Care RN up until 2 years ago, when I left to work in Community Care. I gave 9 years to that industry, and in the end it defeated me!

CJ <" Having known some aged people who've had to move into nursing homes, and knowing people who work in them, I'd rather die than end up in one."
CJ- only about 5% of elderly people end up in a Nursing Home. The rest are cared for in the Community by family, friends or Community staff like me.

There are good and bad aged care staff, and good and bad aged care residents, just as there are good and bad people in all walks of life in the wider community.

One can never say if one will end up in a Nursing Home because most of the time they have absolutely no choice. Most people are transferred there from Hospitals because they are unable to go home.

If you live alone and you are unable to look after yourself after a massive stroke for example, then you have no choice because you can't physically kill yourself!

So wouldn't it be more constructive to try to figure out ways to improve the aged care system so that if we are ever forced into them, it wont be such a terrible thing?

When the aged care industry realises that we need more trained Registered and Enrolled Nurses to care for the aged, rather than so many hastily trained and cheap personal 'care' assistants, we will have better aged care.

When the Government agrees to pay aged care nurses the same as hospital nurses, we will have better aged care because they will be able to attract and retain nurses.

When the Government does away with the ridiculous funding requirements expected of nurses, in preference to actual nursing care time with the residents, we will have better aged care.

Dear Susie,
Once people had a God given talent and that was their life ministry. Your talent is usualy your passion. Today money has become our passion and when lust for money is in control we are not and we need to get back balance. Without truth in our brave new world mankind is adrift on a sea of iniqity without a compass LOST without hope. Jesus put it so simply, put God first and love one another which brings back the balance. Love is a decision not a feeling. So to follow the words of Jesus requires a decision. If you do everything you feal like you will end up in deep *it up the creek without the proverbial paddle asking why it aint working. The 5th comandment says Honour father and mother so you have a good long life. We have lost the meaning of honour in our society today and replaced it with the word respect and excused our actions by following our feelings instead of the truth. To honour means to put first in the correct order. So put God first, then your family, then work, and last your church and you find as you apply that order in all your living life is simple. Foxy put it beautiful when she spoke of her step dad.

Suzeonline

I once worked in an administrative role in an Aged Care facility - the residents ranged from the mobile through to dementia sufferers. The carers and nurses worked their guts out for a pittance. I was paid more than anyone except for the manager and the DON. I didn't consider my work to be harder or of any greater value than the work performed by the caring staff. There is no equity in the human care sector. Someone like James Packer wouldn't last a day working in a dementia facility - yet we 'worship' people like him.

I will be moving soon to live with my mother and care for her - hopefully she will end her days in her own home. However, if her needs are such that I cannot cope I know there are excellent facilities and will ensure that she gets the best.

Apart from the issue of inequitable pay for caring staff, I cannot condone the fact of For-Profit facilities - conflict of interest as far as I am concerned. These organisations still receive government subsidies depending on the residents' medical requirements - the facility I worked for was a for-profit type residence.

Richie 10

Go make yourself useful and campaign for equitable pay for all nursing and caring workers.

Ritchie10, I am not sure of your meaning with all those nice words.
I'm guessing you think we should follow the commandment of honouring our father and mother?

All the honour and love in the world won't help you if you try to care for a very demented parent in your own home by yourself.

Many wonderful children and spouses have tried to feed, wash, toilet, medicate, keep safe, and love their relative until they themselves have been run into the ground and become ill themselves.

People like you who suggest they should do it all for the love of your God just make life so much worse for those who have tried so hard to keep their elderly relatives at home with them and are just physically and mentally not able to do it.

Walk a mile in their shoes before you pass judgement on them.