Time flies

I would love a dollar for every time someone mentions how quickly the past year has gone. It usually doesn’t take long for the conversation to turn to how time seems to go faster as we get older. We then reflect on a happier time when life took a more leisurely pace.

Times have changed, where in this digital age, you can complete most of your Christmas shopping without having to set foot in a shop.

Time saving devices litter our homes, but like any poor investment decision, they don’t seem to pay a dividend.

Remember in the 1980s when you were given a ‘round tuit’, giving you the ability to get all those things done that you had put off to a later date. Problem is, they are incredibly difficult to cash in!

While we may not be able to locate all of this saved time, we can all agree that 2023 has been another big year.

The mood in aged care has changed significantly over the past twelve months. There is a sense that things are getting better, as improved wages and increased care minutes begin to have a positive impact.

The Government’s decision to fund the 15% pay increase for direct care workers, which was combined with the Fair Work Commission’s Annual Wage Review decision of 5.75%, was a game changer for a group of hardworking employees who had previously been overlooked.

Staff who work in aged care usually do so because they have a genuine affinity for the work. It is a vocation. However, when the workloads are high and the pay is low, their patience is tested.

The sustainability of the sector will continue to be a major focus in 2024.

The challenge is, the funding envelope does not cover what providers are being asked to deliver; mandatory care minutes of 200 minutes per day with a minimum of 40 minutes per day of Registered Nurse (RN) time, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The Aged Care Taskforce, led by Minister Anika Wells, is due to deliver its final report in December 2023. The sector is hopeful that the recommendations will provide some relief as providers strive to meet the mandatory care minute targets.

In our home, we often joke that all we want for Christmas is time. This year, aged care homes have been given additional time, we just now need it to be fully funded.

Opinion piece by Darren Birbeck
Chief Executive Officer
Resthaven Incorporated