Thursday, 18 November 2004

Rest-home collapses outrage Alexander

“What are the elderly supposed to do in Dunedin now that this Government has let the second rest-home collapse in just three months?” asked United Future senior citizens spokesperson Marc Alexander today.

The impending closure of Ashwood Valley Home in Waitati follows the earlier closing of Andersons Bay Home and Hospital about three months ago.

“Stagnant government subsidies due to the anti-elderly policies of population-based funding is likely to result in even more closures.

“What on earth are our elderly supposed to do…leave their families and city to relocate?

“Is that how we treat our elders now that they’ve stopped working 40 hours a week to generate this government’s tax surplus?

“The crazy thing is that this government has no problem in spending $76,000 per criminal in maximum security with all the creature comforts, and paying out compensation when they don’t find it to their liking, but then balks at $28,000 for a law-abiding life-long tax contributor. It makes no sense, ” said Mr Alexander.

ENDS

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