Annecto shutdown leaves aged care, disabled clients scrambling for alternatives
Clients of a major aged and disability care service that is set to close next month say they have not been told who will be taking its place.
Annecto Incorporated supports more than 4,400 clients across 19 locations in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory.
The charity announced on Wednesday it would be closing before the end of July due to "financial challenges".
Mildura resident Anne Berry said the charity had not contacted her or her husband Denis.
"I'm not in a position to help Denis shower or anything, so if there's a lag between the changeover we're going to be in trouble," she said.
Ms Berry said the couple relied on Annecto for daily support with personal care and weekly help with cleaning and shopping.
"We were upset last night to think what was going to happen, because at the moment we couldn't cope without the extra help," Ms Berry said.
First Choice Care Plus co-owner Raelene Houston said her company subcontracted to Annecto in the northern Victorian town of Robinvale and supported 26 aged and disability care clients.
She said none of her clients had been notified by the charity of its impending closure.
"For the elderly people it puts worry to them about who is going to provide their services," Ms Houston said.
She said she was scrambling to find alternative providers for her clients and was prepared to work for free to make sure they were not left alone.
"We will continue in the interim – even if it means doing that for nothing – until another provider comes on board and takes on their packages," Ms Houston said.
Annecto interim chief executive Tyrone McCuskey said the organisation was confident it would find other providers to take on its clients.
"We will reach out to customers in due course and make sure they understand what the transition process means to them and make sure there's no interruption of services," he said.
Mr McCuskey said the "incredibly difficult" decision to close the organisation was the result of increased costs associated with recommendations from the aged and disability care royal commissions.
"The board's made the decision that for the future benefit of our participants, and for our staff, that services would be better met by other trusted organisations," he said.
Elder Rights Australia chief executive Debra Nicholl said it was disappointing to see any provider withdrawing services, particularly with the federal government's aged care reforms due to come into place on November 1.
She said while it would be "tricky" to find alternative support services for all of Annecto's clients.
"We can't have a situation where an older person is left without care and services because of a business decision made by Annecto," Ms Nicholl said.
The Department of Health it was encouraging Annecto clients to get in touch if they needed support.
"The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, the National Disability Insurance Agency, the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission and the Department of Veterans' Affairs are working closely with Annecto to ensure every person receiving care is informed about any changes impacting them," a spokesperson said in a statement.
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