Home is home. 

A major problem has emerged over the last decades regarding the ability of our community to safely, competently and reliably staff positions to meet the needs of older people or younger people with a disability at home.  

This issue and problem is reaching just about a crisis point for some agencies and families. This is an issue however that is usually not given the consideration it deserves until it is too late. 

As we sit comfortably at home we rarely consider the concept of what happens if we lose our sense of home. But just about everybody I know shudders at the thought of having a major accident or illness or through the aging process sustaining a debilitating and life limiting disability. But a closer look reveals that people are worried about the consequence of becoming too frail or disabled and losing what they have as a home and community life. They are concerned about their capacity to influence the preservation of their quality of life at home and in their community space. 

Many people I talk to are concerned about being relegated to a nursing home (which is far from a home) where the perception is that it does not have the resources to meet your individual needs.

So what is the alternative to ending up in an institution or a substandard life at home with the possibility of under skilled people and an understaffed overstretched workforce?  

There are a few retirement care options, but unfortunately these very well appointed 5-star options are often out of the financial reach of the average person with little assets and already feel disempowered.

Stay in your own home is a much-touted mantra, citing quality of life, personal independence and empowerment, self-advocacy, and a swag of other idealistic but very important bench marks for our future.

So, imagine this; you now have a disability either because of advancing years or because of another life consequence and you have battled the odds to avoid living in a nursing home.  You have also managed to organise and put in place for yourself a system comprised of services that provides you with home delivered meals, a home cleaning service a maintenance service, an emergency response service should you fall, and a personal care service.

All should come together to provide you with a cluster of services and keep you away from matron [now called Directors OF Care] knocking on your door!

Your independence is extremely important to you, and you do not fancy any rookies a third of your age insisting on you seeking their permission to use the telephone or other similar restrictive practices, so you have tried very hard to avoid the merry dance of residential care in a nursing home.

The problem you’re about to discover is that despite your best efforts to piece together these services, there simply aren’t enough community care workers available. As you strive for independence from institutionalized care, you encounter a host of issues:

1. Unreliable Carers: Some carers start off with enthusiasm in your home but lose interest or focus after a few weeks. Consequently, you end up having to train new carers unless you find an exceptional one.
2. Availability Issues: Community care workers can be unreliable due to their unpredictable availability at certain times to come to iyour home.
3. Skills Gap: Despite claiming to be “in training,” some workers lack the necessary skills for both general and personal tasks.
4. Job Disparities: Some workers consider certain tasks beneath them, leading to inefficiencies.
5. Institutionalization: Over time, some workers become institutionalized themselves and try to impose the same on you.
6. Low Pay and Frustration: Workers complain about low wages, which can be frustrating for you as their recipient of care.
7. Approachability Concerns: Workers may hesitate to seek training due to an unapproachable employer.

Why Is the Care-Support Industry Struggling to Attract and Retain Workers?

1. Poor Entry-Level Wages: The industry offers low wages at entry level, making factory work more financially appealing despite its lack of legal responsibilities.
2. Difficult Conditions: Community care workers face long or short shifts, extensive travel for minimal time, and challenging work conditions.
3. Lack of Permanent Prospects: The industry often lacks stable, permanent employment opportunities.
4. Workplace Bullying: Instances of workplace bullying can leave workers feeling disempowered, especially if they lack proper training to handle difficult situations.
5. Negative Vocational Image: The perception of community care work is often negative, affecting recruitment.
6. Inconsistent Training Commitment: Both the system and organizations sometimes fail to consistently prioritize worker training.

Dare I say is it a system in crisis, buried deep and kept under the other layers of community living so it is out of the public eye.  Perhaps it is not a great vote winner!  Or perhaps if you are defined as “elderly” or “disabled” it still marginalises you despite all the rhetoric and public policy that professes to do the contrary.

The sad thing I am contemplating is that as a so-called baby boomer, I will have more possibility of living a quality of life in a place like Bali, or Thailand or Vietnam where I know that the government will offer me a special visa to live out my days at home and I will be able to afford the care and support I need on a fraction that it costs me here in Australia. The truth is this isn’t the choice for everybody. Because home is home and home care means care in your preferred home and homeland. Not everyone wants to leave their homeland and start again . 

It will sadden me to put this in place but what are the alternatives?  No serious thought or commitment is being contemplated here!  I hear my colleagues heckle!  Perhaps when the consumers of our country decide to consume elsewhere then perhaps, we may see changes for the generations ahead. 

We need to address this issue at all levels, seriously, carefully and prudently.  We need to make this industry attractive, professional and sustainable.  We need to take it out of the hands of the empire building bureaucrats, corrupt NDIS OPERATIVES and medical model groupies and give it back to the people who are the consumers.  We desperately need to increase the flow of people who are attracted to this industry. There are literally dozens of jobs available every day in the major capital cities.  They just can’t be filled.  And when people do try to fill them, they often don’t stay. 

With the help of some astute Human Resource developers – training organisations, we could be able to turn this problem around and make it an attractive career to workers and not just a grind. We all need to be part of a solution, the bureaucrats, the politicians, and the community in general. 

Having said that it is important for me to point out that there are a number of accommodation services, NDIS home service providers that deliver first class home care services who have very committed and highly skilled staff. It is critical to find a good home service provider that meets you and your family’s needs and stays sincere to this so you can be at home.

Home is home. 

Remember that individual needs may vary, so it is essential to consult a home and healthcare professional for personalized advice. 

For a professional consultation about your Home and Community care needs phone BLU SKY CARE  at 08 8463 1333

For more detailed in-depth information go to The Home & Community Carers Handbook 2024 (available by order through BluSky Care tel:+61884631333 ($90 plus postage)

Blu Sky Care is registered NDIS provider committed to providing a high standard of Complex Care services to people requiring support. We understand the struggles and are committed to personal and family solutions.

Disclaimer: The information provided herein is of a general nature and should not be construed as personalized medical advice. Any opinions expressed originate from external health professionals and are not intended to serve as substitutes for professional guidance. It is advisable to consult a qualified healthcare professional for individualized medical advice and treatment.