Access to aged care respite in Canberra is set to become even more limited with the closure of a 15-bed facility in the city's south. The ACT government says it receives no Commonwealth funding to run the Rivett service and cites major safety and infrastructure issues. But Carers ACT warns demand for respite care continues to grow.
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00:00When it comes to aged care respite facilities in Canberra,
00:05Barangiri isn't the most modern or fit for purpose.
00:09Obviously the building is old, yes it would be nice if they had,
00:13I understand the rooms could be a bit bigger and it would be great if they had their own bathrooms.
00:17My mother was always quite particular about that, but she managed perfectly well.
00:21Tanya Latyszynski says her family would have tried but struggled
00:25to provide the three weeks of 24 hour a day nursing support her mum recently needed.
00:30She came out of hospital and wasn't well enough to yet go home
00:34and needed some interim care and they were fabulous.
00:38From June, that interim care won't be available at Barangiri.
00:42The ACT government is funding something that is absolutely in the Commonwealth space
00:48and once we step into that space we get no Commonwealth funding at all.
00:52Minister Stephen Smith says the building is ACT owned,
00:56but needs a major renovation which would require closing it and suspending services.
01:01But because the model doesn't make financial sense and amid budget challenges,
01:06the government will instead explore its options.
01:09It does have a promising future as a residential facility in the ACT.
01:14Carers ACT warns that decision will worsen an already bad problem.
01:19With availability of local residential respite beds down 40% in the past two years.
01:26Every day we get calls from people requiring respite and wanting to book an aged care respite bed.
01:32Every day we have to tell them it's not available.
01:35Every day we have to tell them on the dates they want it's not available.
01:38Every day we have to say I'm sorry we can't help you with that.
01:42The Health Minister acknowledges access can be difficult and challenging, but...
01:47Where we are operating in a space that is clearly a Commonwealth responsibility
01:51and where we get no Commonwealth funding at all to deliver that service,
01:56there's going to have to be some tough decisions to be made.
01:58Good morning, I'm just enquiring about some respite care in Canberra please.
02:02That's little consolation for Tanya Latyshinski.
02:05This was the only place that was an option and thankfully they had a space at the time.
02:10A spokesperson says the Federal Government and National Aged Care Services Regulator
02:15will work with the provider to ensure continuity of care.