Fed: More protection for nursing home residents under Labor plan

AAP General News (Australia)
02-12-2001
Fed: More protection for nursing home residents under Labor plan

The Council on the Ageing says elderly residents of nursing homes may have more protection
under Labor's new five-point plan for the aged care sector.

But council national executive director DENYS CORRELL says more detail is needed on
the policy, announced today, before he can be sure it'll deliver better care.

Mr CORRELL says the council welcomes Labor's plan to appoint an Aged Care Ombudsman
to oversee an independent complaints mechanism.

He says one concern is how the current accreditation process and Labor's planned national
benchmark will mesh.

Mr CORRELL says the promised process of consultation with the sector will be essential
to get the policy right.

And he says aged care will be an issue in this year's federal election, with all political
parties needing to focus on developing better care for older Australians.

AAP RTV eg/daw/jtb/jn

KEYWORD: AGED COUNCIL (CANBERRA)

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