Originally Posted by
justakiwi
In my humble opinion “care” is what is going to be needed the most in the future. Sure, there will always be wealthy retirees who want a lifestyle village/apartment retirement, but the vast majority of people are not/won’t be in that category. In my job in a small NGO rest home, I am already seriously concerned about the changing dynamics we are now seeing. Our last two incoming residents were 99 and 94. Our youngest resident is 70. Our oldest has just turned 104. I don’t do day shifts so I can’t speak for day staff, but those of us working afternoons (3.30-11pm) are already struggling. The needs of our residents are increasing at what feels like a rate of knots. I just did a weekend supervisor shift and I am exhausted - physically and mentally. With only two staff on before 4.30pm, and after 7.30pm, we were running all night. We didn’t get to sit down and write our notes until 10.40pm. We had one 10 minute cuppa break at 6pm and our dinner break at 8.25pm - we were then back up at 8.35pm. We are classed as rest home level care. If this is what basic rest home level care looks like now, in 6 months or a year, we will not be able to cope with current staffing levels. OCA has it right - they seem to be the only ones who recognise that the demands for care are about to sky rocket. Care will always be subsidised by the government - regardless of which party is in power. Costs will no doubt increase, so fees will follow. But the government will continue to meet this cost. Care subsidies will always be guaranteed income to care facilities.
I hold OCA for this very reason. Their philosophies are reasonably well aligned with my own. Care is my passion and I feel it is also theirs. Yes, they still need their apartments and independent units, but care will be more important down the track than many realise.