Cath Barbaro

The new, 10-year National Dementia Action Plan fails to address the segregation and detention of people living in aged care, according to OPAN CEO Craig Gear. ‘We strongly support this joint initiative between the federal, state and territory governments,’ Mr… Read More »Action plan ignores locked dementia units

Australia’s aged care system should be accessible to all older people, according to OPAN CEO Craig Gear. ‘That’s why the Charter of Aged Care Rights calls for service providers to actively affirm older people’s rich and diverse life experiences. ‘And why… Read More »Addressing the barriers to aged care

The Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) has welcomed the Australian Government’s new Star Ratings for residential aged care providers, which were made public today. ‘This nationally consistent benchmark – a key recommendation of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety… Read More »Older people are entitled to five-star care

Most older people want to remain living independently in their own home,* yet one-fifth of Australians aged 80 or older live in residential age care – one of the highest proportions in the world.** In response, the Older Persons Advocacy… Read More »Innovation is the key to housing independence for older people

More than 50 peak bodies and key sector stakeholders last week (Friday, 9 December) attended OPAN’s #ReadyToListen Town Hall, which was aimed at preventing the sexual assault of older people and people living with dementia. A wide range of organisations… Read More »Over 50 organisations team up to prevent sexual assault

Lorraine Tye’s husband, Ron, lives with dementia. When he first went into residential care in regional NSW, she had concerns about the quality of care. ‘He was locked out in the garden one time I went to visit him –… Read More »Speak up for yourself – or someone you care for

There is a common assumption that older people with disability cannot make their own decisions, OPAN CEO Craig Gear has told the Royal Commission into Violence, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability. The risk is increased if a substitute decision-maker… Read More »Speaking up for, not over, older people

To prevent the sort of abuse described in Alan’s story (below) we must presume everyone’s ability to make their own decisions – and enshrine that right in law. OPAN acknowledges the importance of appointing a substitute decision-maker (such as a… Read More »Maximising rights with supported-decision making

#ReadyToListen’s Charter of Sexual Rights has been enthusiastically embraced by older people, family members, carers, advocates, aged care workers and allied health professionals in OPAN’s online survey. The overwhelming majority (91.5 percent) of the 272 respondents either agreed or strongly… Read More »‘Staff are carers, not wardens’: survey endorses Charter

The Albanese Government’s second, crucial piece of government aged care reform legislation was approved by a Senate committee on Friday, 2 September. This should ensure a swift passage for the Aged Care Amendment (Implementing Care Reform) Bill 2022, which includes 24/7… Read More »Advocacy is for everyone – improving the lives of older people