Cade Lucas
This story was one of the top stories from 2024 and was originally published in May.
Wyndham council has moved to allay fears that its decision to stop providing aged care services will signal the end for many social groups and activities for elderly residents.
Last week Wyndham council announced that in response to the federal government’s upcoming reforms to the way aged care services are funded and delivered, that council run programs would be shut down by the end of this year and replaced by private and community providers.
Social activities and council provided transport that helps elderly residents attend them, are among the services set to go, raising concerns about a loss of friendships and increased loneliness and isolation as a result.
Among those concerned are Tarneit’s Lorraine and Tony Chisholm who’ve been attending weekly lunches at Penrose Community Centre for the past year.
While her 80 year-old husband is wheelchair bound with Parkinson’s disease, Lorraine Chisholm said they are still able to get out and about, but it’s the social interaction they’ll miss.
“I can take Tony to the (Pacific Werribee) plaza, I can take him to Williams Landing, I can take him to Altona, but you don’t meet people,” she said.
“Whereas with (Penrose) we all talk and we meet people and you look forward to the next meeting and seeing them again.”
For 96 year old Maurice Wilkinson of Hoppers Crossing, meetings of the ‘The Vintage’, a weekly social group of elderly men at the Central Park Community Centre, are the only time he leaves the house.
Mr Wilkinson said he and many other group members relied on council transport to attend and going from one service provider to one of many will make it impossible to keep The Vintage together.
“We can’t get anyone else to support say 14 or 15 of us from one area to go to one area. They just won’t be available,” said Mr Wilkinson who already has a home care package with aged care provider Kincare, but that extending this to cover social gatherings like The Vintage was impractical.
“To do that. I’ve got to get all my members to go to Kincare. You can’t do that.”
In response Wyndham council said it had deliberately delayed the reforms until the end of 2024 to give residents and service providers time to address these issues.
“In working with the federal government to transition clients to new provider/s, where there is the opportunity, we will provide the information to groups so that those who wish to retain relationships may discuss with each other and choose the same provider,” said spokesperson for Wyndham council.
“ Should there be the opportunity to move an entire program/service to a new provider, we will support this to happen.”
While living alone, Maurice Wilkinson’s son Peter and wife Marion live nearby and provide regular support. They take issue with council’s claim that its aged care reforms were the result of community feedback.
“Who did they survey and how many elderly did they survey and how many people were contacted who didn’t have access to the internet?” asked Peter Wilkinson.
“There’s no wifi in his house,“ added Marion Wilkinson referring to Maurice’s home
“We’re not talking about people that are 50 years old, we’re talking about people that were in the Second World War.”
Wyndham council said community consultation on the aged care reforms involved personalised letters, brochures and direct engagement with age care care providers and that an overwhelming majority of respondents supported the move to an assisted service model.
Council said community connector team is available to meet with residents and assist them on (03) 8734 4514 or communityconnector@wyndham.vic.gov.au.
