Yes Toot I can vouch for all of that as I too did some volunteer work in them--and it is dreadful / heartbreaking / undignified / and disgusting. No one would choose to live this way--they are not ever going to get better and their lives are a misery and the more it is made public as to how these places are the sooner the "Peaceful pill" will be available.



I hope I have the ablity to do myself in before I ever have to enter these awful places. Everything that is told in the above site is true.

Yep, if this is all we've got to look forward to, when our kids send us off to one of these hell holes way down the track, so they can "get on with their lives" that peaceful pill is definitely the go. We'll have to fight like hell to get it but we should definitely make the effort.

It's hard to read that without a tear coming to the eyes..that's for sure.

The genuinely dedicated doctors and nurses are saints in my book. The trouble is..or part anyway..that to go into aged care nursing or care, one needs to have a vocation, similar to a priest or nun. Not to be looked at as just another job. Sadly, there seem to be not enough people with the deep seated desire to care for our most frail.

Just throwing money at the situation is not the answer.

When I see and hear other professions or industry workers calling for more money and 'better conditions', I feel they ought to be shown that article, and get some perspective.

Yes Koko, it's a sad state of affairs, we like to stick our oldies in a home, the Europeans and the Asians don't, they become part of the family. It seems it's just too hard for us to care for our parents. This is a rundown of the two different nursing homes the Daily Telegraph reporter Rosie Squires went to.



BUPA a NOT-FOR-PROFIT organisation. They began buying nursing homes in Australia and today own 47 facilities across Australia. The Bupa empire also runs MBF, HBA and Mutual community Health Insurance. They grossed $12 billion last year and has interests in 190 countries. On its Australian website it says "Bupa reinvests its money to provide more and better healthcare for its customers, helping them to live longer, healthier, happier lives".



Domain group is a FOR-PROFIT organisation owned by AMP backed Principal Healthcare, the largest owner of for-profit aged care providers in Australia and has 58 facilities. In 2007 the Principal Healthcare Group bought out 39 aged care facilities from Doug Moran for $129 million. Moran Health Care Group continued to provide management support until April last ear, including at the nursing home The Sunday Telegraph worked at. Profit for Domain and Principal Healthcare are undisclosed. Doman's website says "Our vision has always been to enhance the delivery of care to our residents".

The problem is that most of these poor souls in the Nursing homes are either mentally and or physically disabled--and those that aren't are in with those that are--very hard to put for the ones that are just physically disabled to put up with up --as the ones that are mentally disabled are either yelling out and sometimes violent as well. These poor people are never going to get any better and so no matter what money you throw at the situation they are not going to have a better life--



Everyone especially the politicions should be made to spend somet time in these places and see just how much suffering goes on, maybe then they would OK the "Peaceful Pill" Maybe a lot of folk should spend some time in them to see just how darm awful that stage of life is.

The large "For Profit" groups many funded by AMP also run Retirement Villages and they are run in such manner that needs tidying up by our Federal and State Governments. At least in Nursing Homes there are many good nurses and doctors but in Retirement Villages we have upstart managers backed by the corporate bosses and lawyers. They reap millions from seniors by the use of sales and management methods unmatched in most business ventures.

Funny how we only hear the horror stories - never about the very many nursing homes that are well run and pleasant to be in - and I had the opportunity to look at quite a number of them when it was necessary for Dad to go into one.

The home I chose was cheerfully decorated,spacious,clean,the food was excellent,the staff friendly and professional. Dad was able to have a bed in a two-bed room, next to a huge window overlooking parklands. During the day he was in a comfy and secure padded chair on wheels that could be lowered into a reclining position if he wanted to doze, and when we visited we could wheel him out into the courtyard garden where we could all share a cup of coffee.There were activities of all kinds, music and lots of banter between staff and residents. Thus was the high care section;if he had been mobile he could have had a small apartment to himself with ensuite. Altogether it was a very comfortable arrangement and I felt relieved that he was so well looked after. I was free to visit at any time of day and stay as long as I liked too.

Oh, and no-one can "stick you in a home" without your consent, unless you are in a state of dementia and unable to communicate. I had to place Dad in a home because he had fractured his hip and was no longer mobile and never would be very mobile again - he was 96 after all. Prior to that he stayed at home and I was his carer. Oh, and by the way, I have a number of Asian friends and they have all placed their parents in nursing homes when the time came.

Thankfully Miss Jucinta, I haven't walked in your shoes. Both parents died in their sleep. How lucky am I?

Spook 74, I don't know anyone who is in a retirement village, I think you are cheesed off, can you tell us why? Spill the beans mate.