Permanent Supplement for the poorest pensioners
Published 19 August 2020
“CPSA urges the Australian Government to provide an additional permanent Pension Hardship Supplement for the poorest pensioners, singles without assets and without private income. The living standard of single pensioners with the pension as their sole source of income hovers just above the poverty line. [more]
Royal Commission calls out Government on blatant aged care unpreparedness
Published 19 August 2020
No matter how much the panel consisting of the Department of Health's Secretary, the assistant-Secretary for Aged Care and the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commissioner tried to filibuster their way through a Royal Commission hearing, the Royal Commission was clear about the fact that residential aged care was woefully unprepared for the COVID-19 onslaught. [more]
The unacceptable reasons why affordable housing is unaffordable
Published 19 August 2020
The lack of social and affordable housing throughout Australia is not caused by lack of government funding. It's just that federal, state and territory governments are funding the wrong things that actually makes affordable housing unaffordable. [more]
Financial elder abuse and powers of attorney
Published 19 August 2020
Psychological and financial abuse are the most common forms of elder abuse. COVID-19 is causing financial stresses throughout the community and is casusing an uptick in financial elder abuse.
Westpac’s trips north and south
Published 19 August 2020
Bob and Norma Meadly from Narromine NSW have owned shares in Westpac since before it was called Westpac. Westpac's August 2020 decision to not pay a dividend is just a blip, Bob reckons, although Norma's view has always been that shares are for fools. [more]
On holidays from your nursing home
Published 11 August 2020
COVID-19 has seen many families re-evaluate if a nursing home is really the best place for their loved one. Some are considering taking their loved one out and accommodating them with family, but apart from the difficulties that is always likely to present, there are a few unnecessary hurdles as well. [more]
Build-to-rent not all it’s built up to be
Published 11 August 2020
There's a new tax break for housing specifically built to be rented out by a single landlord, but low-income households, including older renters, will be shut out of this market.
New: 10 Questions about aged care – information series
Published 11 August 2020
10 QUESTIONS is a series of leaflets about aged care written by nurses, doctors and experts with experience in aged care. Each leaflet focuses on an individual aspect of care to increase consumer knowledge and make the journey into residential aged care easier. [more]
Would you like a little land tax with your stamp duty?
Published 27 July 2020
The NSW Federal Financial Relations Review recommends replacing stamp duty with a land tax. It will make downsizing easier, it spruiks, but for most it will make it impossible.
To vax or not to vax
Published 27 July 2020
CPSA is very clear about where it stands on vaxing: vax!
Cold housing kills
Published 27 July 2020
Low-income households living in poorly insulated housing is a recipe for hypothermia and death.
How having 90 words for snow relates to aged care
Published 23 July 2020
Languages spoken north of the Arctic circle have many words for snow, because there is so much snow and so many different types of snow north of the Arctic circle. The Australian aged care industry is all for a similar semantic deployment. [more]
What the Michelin Guide to Australian nursing homes doesn’t tell you
Published 23 July 2020
Not only does the new nursing home rating system fail to tell people looking for a nursing home how good or adequate homes are (only how bad), it also fails to mention things that would be useful to know.
Aged care funding for old rope
Published 23 July 2020
The federal Department of Health has a habit of making simple things complicated in aged care funding and it's costing the taxpayer while home care providers laugh all the way to the bank. Financing of the Commonwealth Home Support Program and the Home Care Packages program explained. [more]
Would you rather be financially secure now or when you’re dead?
Published 22 July 2020
A new CPSA publication explains why it is necessary for most retirees to use their capital to fund their retirement and suggests a few ways in which it can be done without running out of money before you die.
OUT NOW: Michelin Guide to Australian Nursing Homes
Published 29 June 2020
Malnourishment is not exactly what you would associate with the Michelin restaurant guide, but the Department of Health has gone ahead and done a Michelin (with dots rather than stars) for Australian nursing homes - available from July 2020. [more]
How serious is the Government about serious nursing home incidents?
Published 29 June 2020
Everybody is concerned about serious incidents in nursing homes in which one resident attacks another. Often dementia is in play. But being concerned is not going to fix the problem.
Right of reply: You can trust Advance Care Planning
Published 29 June 2020
Dying with Dignity NSW's Board Member Dr Liz Jacka did not agree with an article published last month on this website about Advance Care Directives. Here is her reply.
Public dental budget hole filled at last minute
Published 29 June 2020
Australia's disregard for oral health continues with public dental schemes coming very close to being de-funded.
Super shock unnecessary
Published 29 June 2020
Halved overnight! Many retirees received a letter from their superannuation fund saying their pension would be halved from 1 July 2020. It's not as bad as it seems, though.
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