ABC’s 7.30 Report: “Imagine not being able to comfort a parent during their final days”

Tonight the ABC’s 7.30 Report carried seven minute segment on the rife ‘threatening’, ‘intimidating’ and ‘bullying’ treatment of aged care facilities to family of residents. It led with a daughter who had been banned by two successive Perth care facilities form visiting her mother. This occurred in 2006.

They interviewed a solicitor, Rodney Lewis, who is an Elder Abuse Expert who explained that while last year there were 3,500 complaints against aged care facilities, this is the ‘tip of the iceberg’.

A second interview was with a daughter who was also ‘bullied’ over her complaints about her mother’s treatment; she has been a resident of the care facility for nine years.

Susan Ley, the Federal Minister for health and responsible for Aged care was asked to comment and responded with a statement that an independent Complaints Commissioner would be appointed by 1st January.

No other balancing comment was given.