AMA welcomes aged care code of conduct, but questions limitations on personal relationships
AMA President, Dr Kerryn Phelps, said today that the Aged Care Code of Conduct is welcome but its good intentions have been limited by not expressing respect and support for the full range of human relationships enjoyed by other adult Australians.
Dr Phelps said the Code's failure to address de facto or same-sex relationships among the elderly is narrow-minded.
"Why should a personal relationship enjoyed by two consenting adults become taboo once they enter an aged care facility?" Dr Phelps said.
"And why should two consenting adults be barred from commencing a de facto or same sex relationship when they are in an aged care facility?
"Love, affection, care and compassion do not cease when you get old. Our elderly make enough sacrifices when they enter an aged care facility without being told what sort of personal relationship they are allowed to have in their old age.
"There is no place for this patronising attitude in a compassionate society," Dr Phelps said.
After viewing a draft of the Code earlier this year, the AMA wrote a submission which, when referring to Fundamental Human Values, said, in part:
"The right to privacy is recorded as a fundamental item under (v) together with rights of married people to live a married life under (vi). These are not obviously reflected in 4.2.2 in Care recipients-environment. Is this intentional because they are too hard to address in the real world of aged care? Private rooms etc for a resident…and their partner if desired?"
This issue was overlooked in the formulation of the Code. Then, in her July Press Club speech, Dr Phelps raised the need for more double beds in aged care facilities - a call supported by the community and many in the aged care sector. The Code, in its present form, ignores the reality of the diversity of relationships at any age.
"Despite this obvious failing, the Code is a major step forward in the aged care debate," Dr Phelps said.
"Now that we have a Code of Conduct, it is time for political will to address the funding and other resource needs of the sector.
"It would make a pleasant change to have aged care in the news for positive action, not negative outcomes like we see almost every day at the moment," Dr Phelps said.
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CONTACT: John Flannery (02) 6270 5477 / (0419) 494 761