An aged care giant is being forced to hand back almost $200,000 dollars after it ripped off residents with sneaky fees for free-to-air TV and Wi-Fi.
The federal government is cracking down on dodgy providers but it won’t save all elderly Australians from being gouged.
Opal Healthcare was forced to refund $190,000 to its residents, as the government tries to stop providers finding loopholes. 9News/file
Last November, the Albanese government changed how Australians in aged care were charged for so-called “lifestyle” options, including when they’re not even being used.
Some of these charges include $5 a day for residents to watch their own TV in their room, or a daily $2.50 charge that adds up to $900 per year to have one meal out at a restaurant.
Opal Healthcare was forced to refund $190,000 to its residents, as the government tries to stop providers finding loopholes.
Michael Clare’s mother, who is 90, lives at an aged care facility in Brisbane run by Arcare. He claims she is being charged for multiple items she has never used or would never even consider using, including $16 a day for wine.
Michael Clare has criticised some of the charges his mother has faced at the Arcare facility. 9News
“Mum’s been a teetotaller all her life. She doesn’t like alcohol,” he told 9News.
“Wi-Fi and Foxtel that mum would have no idea how to use,” he added, listing some other items that have been expensed.
“It’s gouging, plain and simple.”
Minister for Aged Care Sam Rae admitted some were taking advantage of the new system.
Michael Clare claims his mother is being charged for multiple items she has never used or would never even consider using, including $16 a day for wine. 9News
“Unfortunately, we saw some of them taking older folks for a ride,” he said.
He said those who were in aged care before November 1 last year would not be charged the extra fees but those who moved in after that date would still be stung, meaning a two-tier system had been created.
Rae said the government was looking to crack down on providers exploiting the rules, pointing out services that were previously provided to a resident for free before November 1 must still remain free of charge for them.
“We still expect providers to provide all of the necessities and comforts that should be expected within residential aged care,” Rae said.
Arcare Aged Care 9News
Clare believes more needs to be done.
“They still haven’t solved the problem of this type of price gouging,” he claimed.