What it’s really like in the aged care industry?

Registered nurse Jocelyn Hofman starts crying when she describes what it is like to work in aged care. In Ms Hofman’s 34 years in the sector, she’s seen nurse-to-resident ratios plummet. It’s just one of many areas of concern highlighted in last year’s Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.

Ms Hofman is also noticing elderly people entering aged care older, sicker, frailer and with more complex medication regimes than ever before. To cut costs, aged care providers have replaced many nursing staff with personal care assistants who are paid less and aren’t required to have a formal qualification.

” I am exhausted and I go home, and think: Have I done all the paper work that needs to be done? We don’t have proper breaks, because we are worried. “

Registered nurse and nursing union member Rebecca Woodfield has clocked up a quarter of a century working in aged care, and currently works as a manager. Ms Woodfield says without dedicated aged care staff working extra hours unpaid, residents would not even get basic care. 

” It’s depressing and a continual fight. “

Recently she was told about a facility where one personal care assistant was required to administer medication for 50 residents. She gets emotional when asked to reflect on why she continues to work in the industry under such difficult conditions — she stays because of the residents.

Enrolled nurse and ANMF work site representative Adam Weaver wanted to work in aged care because he wanted to make a difference in the lives of elderly Australians. 

He’s worked in the sector for 18 years and has noticed a decline in care, staffing ratios, lifestyle and activities for residents. As well as mandating staffing ratios, the ANMF also wants the government to fund 10-15 per cent wage increase for all aged care workers to better protect and retain quality staff.

” People don’t understand how hard it is. You have to physically do stuff for people, rolling, showering, cleaning people, you become very attached to these people as well,”

Mr Weaver says. He says every Australian should care about the state of aged care.

“This is our future, this is what people have to look forward to,” he says.