By the year 2060 Australians aged 65 and over will account for one quarter of the population, one in six Australians will be aged 75 or more, and the 'very old' (over 80 years of age) will also ...become more numerous. These statistics indicate that there will be increased demands on the residential aged care workforce in the future and associated labour shortages given the consequent increases in demand for personal care worker services. Moreover, personal care workers (PCWs) are reportedly older than the average age of workers in other fields, further exacerbating these problems. Consequently, this study focuses on both the policy and human resource changes required in the residential aged care sector related to both current and future challenges experienced in attracting and retaining Australia's ageing aged care workforce. Proposed changes include far-reaching policy development required to underpin improved employment conditions, salaries, training and career pathways as an imperative to care for elderly Australian citizens.
There are more than 700 retirement homes in Ontario, which house more than 40 000 seniors, a "number that is expected to grow as our population ages," states the Notice of Proposed Initial Draft ...Regulations (www.seniors.gov .on.ca/en/retirement_homes/Proposed _Initial_Draft_Regulations_RHA.pdf). The act also outlined a policy of "zero tolerance of abuse and neglect," which encompasses abuse of a physical, sexual, emotional, verbal or financial nature. Under the regulations, licensees "would be required to train all staff of the retirement home on the relationship of power imbalances between staff and residents; the potential for abuse and neglect by those in a position of trust, power and responsibility for resident care; and situations that may lead to abuse and neglect; and how to avoid such situations." The legislation also obligated all retirement home owners to apply to a registrar for a license to operate their facilities, and made them subject to inquiries and investigations if there were not "reasonable grounds" to believe the home would be run properly. The act also mandated that all new retirement home staff providing direct care to residents must first undergo a recent background check, including a vulnerable sector screen, and disclose any criminal charges and convictions that have occurred since their last check.
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