Page 895 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 20 March 2019
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Hughes and Page were upgraded in 2018. At the current rate and pace of implementation of the age-friendly suburbs program, it will take 55 years from today. It will take until 2073 before all current suburbs are funded, if they require it. Our Chief Minister will be over 100 years old then, and he will probably be a lot more interested in seniors at that time.
Some of our peak bodies that deal with seniors have a number of ideas about what genuinely needs to be done to create an age-friendly city. They include things like more of a focus on health and improved acute care pathways. Many older consumers face difficulties with getting the continuity of care they need when they are discharged from hospital. There needs to be better access to pain management resourcing and training. Persistent and chronic pain is much more prevalent in older age groups, affecting one in three people over the age of 65.
These peak bodies dealing with seniors also talk about improved access to palliative care in residential aged care. They have called for greater diversity of housing choices for older residents. They have pointed to the significant increases in the cost of electricity and gas, which places increasing pressure on the budgets of older Canberrans who are on fixed low incomes. Electricity prices increased by 10.6 per cent in the past year, while gas and other household fuels rose by 17.8 per cent. Of course, in some cases—not all, but some cases—older Canberrans may be at home more than other Canberrans if they are no longer in the workforce. We hear cases of people sitting and shivering in the cold because they cannot afford to keep the heater going.
The peak bodies have also talked about concessions and rebates, and that the government should stop reducing age concessions and rebates, as they play a critical role in helping older people on a fixed low income to balance their budget and meet the rising cost of essentials. Also, more policies on elder abuse are needed. Transport is another big issue for older Canberrans. In particular, those with mobility issues find it difficult to access even their own shopping centre and services because of the changes to or removal of their regular bus route. They are unable to walk the distances required to access a bus stop, and they have some safety concerns when accessing light rail stops, and particularly when crossing Northbourne Avenue.
The government expects them to pay their taxes and their rates but keeps taking away services. While the government are dismissive of the views of seniors, they keep taking their money. They keep increasing their rates. They keep reducing their subsidies. But they do not want their opinion on planning because they are old. The government are dismissive of seniors when it comes to planning; basically, they are dismissive of anyone who disagrees with them. But we should respect their experience. They have not just the experience but in many cases the time and the will to review policy and provide feedback. When they disagree, it is not necessarily just because they do not like you. When they do not follow social media, it does not mean that you cannot include them in consultation.
During Seniors Week, another thing to think about is the funding of Seniors Week. I understand that the funding for Seniors Week has not been increased for quite some time—potentially, for 10 years. Whilst the importance and popularity of the events in
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