As Federal politicians continue to argue the fate of aged care bills which passed the lower house last night, senior Australians are still no clearer on what’s being done to help them stay engaged and age well with vision loss.
Vision Australia’s Acting Manager of Public Affairs Brandon Ah Tong said after more than three years of asking for inclusion of blindness services for seniors in the aged care system, it is now time for some answers.
“Senior Australians who lose their sight are in real danger of falling through the cracks in the disability and aged care systems – it’s not a crack, it’s a chasm,” Mr Ah Tong said.
“We know DisabilityCare will provide services to people under 65 years old who are blind or have low vision, but the aged care system’s ability to help a senior in the same position is just not there.
“Vision Australia, together with the blindness sector, has been asking decision makers for more than 3 years to show us how seniors will be supported in the event they lose their sight.
“It’s a disgrace there are 191,000 Australians aged over 65 years old who are blind or have low vision yet there is no national system or program in place to help them stay engaged and age well with vision loss,” Mr Ah Tong said.
The Productivity Commission was asked to look into the aged care system in March 2010. Since this time Vision Australia has consistently made the point that there is no national approach or support available to assist a person aged over 65 years to live life without their eyesight.
Vision Australia appeared before the Senate Community Affairs Committee earlier this month, explaining the current aged care system is not equipped to help people with blindness. The report will be tabled this Friday 31 May.
Vision Australia is standing at one with the blindness sector demanding adjustments to aged care to give greater certainty to seniors who are blind or have low vision so that their needs will be met. The incidence of blindness increases with age: 60-69 year olds – 1 in 30 Australians; 70-79 year olds – 1 in 16 Australians; 80-89 year olds – 1 in 10 Australians; 90 year olds – 1 in 7 Australians.
More than 65 per cent of Vision Australia’s clients are aged over 65 years old. Vision Australia receives only 5 per cent funding from aged care to provide services and support.