Page 4448 - Week 14 - Thursday, 9 December 1993
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Recommendation 17 states:
An ACT Information Office for the Aged be established to act as a "one stop shop", drawing together all relevant information, both government and non-government, on ageing issues into one location. This Information Office, given appropriate funding, could be formed as an adjunct to the Council on the Ageing (ACT).
The Government did not agree to this recommendation. I believe, Mr Temporary Deputy Speaker, that the Government has not been terribly imaginative in responding to this recommendation. This is a legitimate issue. If, physically, we cannot create a one-stop shop, there may be other ways that we can facilitate the operation of a one-stop shop in Canberra to better meet the needs of elderly people. They often complain that the services they receive are fragmented and uncoordinated between particular agencies.
Recommendation 19 states:
The ACT Government actively pursues with the Commonwealth the need for changes to the current funding arrangements for dementia specific units to make them more cost effective thus making it possible to create more full time dementia beds in the Territory.
Mr Cornwell drew attention to this recommendation. Again I agree that the Government's response in this area is not strong enough. It is an issue we have heard about in recent times this year, particularly at the opening of Eabrai Lodge some months ago. Recommendation 20 states:
Additional respite beds be made available in the ACT and that, where possible, these additional beds should be co-located with nursing home beds.
Again, the Government agrees to this recommendation, but I would be interested to hear of a timeframe in which the Government is going to implement it.
Recommendation 21 was:
Consideration be given to the provision of a crisis care facility for the aged in the northern part of Canberra.
Again, the Government notes this recommendation. Members of the Social Policy Committee heard at length about the operations of the Burrangiri Crisis Care Centre in Rivett and took on board the concern of the operators of that facility that they were not able to adequately meet the needs of the community. Again I would be interested in a timeframe that the Government is considering for the establishment of additional crisis care facilities, and perhaps Belconnen could be considered as an appropriate site for such a facility.
Recommendation 22 was:
The Government undertake to construct a convalescent facility in the ACT as a matter of urgency.
The Government merely notes this recommendation. I think it was a fairly strong recommendation of the Social Policy Committee and, again, I would encourage the Government to look at the issue in more depth than they have done to date.
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