The vast majority of Australia’s residential aged care facilities do not provide residents with suitable information on Voluntary Assisting Dying (VAD) as required by various state laws.
A new report from Go Gentle Australia and the Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) shows despite VAD laws being passed in every state and the ACT, 85 percent of residential aged care providers did not offer VAD access to their residents.
Go Gentle CEO Dr Linda Swan said they also did not offer any public information about VAD, even though it was a legally available option in every state.
“This means terminally ill older residents and their families can find out too late that they are required to move elsewhere if they wish to access VAD,” Dr Swan said.
She said the results called into question how some providers were complying with the requirements of state VAD law or with their duties under the new Aged Care Act, which comes into effective on November 1.
“The results in this report are disturbing. Older people have a legal right to know about VAD, where it is available and what support will be offered at the end of life.
“This report strongly suggests that this is not standard practice in Residential Aged Care but it must rapidly become so.”
Dr Swan said the report featured 72 providers, which care for almost 70 percent of the national residential aged care population, with only four providing comprehensive information and full access to VAD.
She said she had heard of frail and sick aged care residents being forced to move to another care home to access VAD or only learning about VAD when it was too late, with families angry their loved ones suffered unnecessarily.
“Older people have a legal right to know their options at the end of life, including VAD. And they have a right to know this information before they choose the facility that will become their home.
“They can rightly expect that the people who run residential aged care facilities will adhere to statutes and guidelines put in place to protect their choices and consumer rights.”
OPAN CEO Craig Gear said older people deserved clear, upfront information about VAD to ensure their dignity and rights were upheld.
“Residential aged care is someone’s home. This is not about taking a position for or against VAD – it’s about giving older people and their families the clarity they need at a deeply personal time,” Mr Gear said.
“In rural and regional areas, moving to access VAD can be harmful and unrealistic. Clear information from providers helps older people avoid distressing, unnecessary transfers.”
Download: Voluntary Assisted Dying in Residential Aged Care Homes. A National Report Card.
