Bupa Aged Care Residents Asked To Pay $42 A Day To Have The Plastic Bag Taken Off Their Head Before Breakfast

ERROL PARKER | Editor-at-large | Contact

Thousands of Australians living in Bupa aged care homes will reportedly be offered the opportunity to have the plastic bag removed from their head before breakfast, under a new $42-a-day "Enhanced Breathing Package."

The premium service, rolling out as the sector embraces Higher Everyday Living Fees, will give residents greater choice over whether they would like to experience food, drink and a blood oxygen saturation level (SpO₂) over 80%.

At just $15,330 a year, participating residents will receive access to enough air to exist comfortably and complimentary bag storage during meal times. Exposure to sunlight and family members will continue to be provided at the base level cost.

An industry spokesperson confirmed residents who declined the package would continue receiving the provider’s standard offering.

"The bag is included, it is there to prevent unauthorised eating and drinking," they said.

"We're committed to ensuring nobody misses out a base level of being alive."

The spokesperson clarified that bag removal would remain available at no additional cost should a resident accidentally suffocate.

However, families have been advised that there will be a charge to put the bag back on after a suffocate incident.

The arrangement follows concerns that aged care providers are charging tens of thousands of dollars for services families had incorrectly assumed were covered by the existing thousands of dollars.

Industry representatives said the new framework was about transparency.

"Previously, families weren’t always sure what they were paying for," one explained.

"Now the bag policy can be explored and understood by reading the new brochures."

Residents unable to afford the enhanced package will still be permitted to sit beside someone who can, allowing them to participate in the dining experience by listening and smelling.

Locally, one daughter said she had spent the morning calculating the new charges to see whether her mother could afford another year of enhanced breathing.

Management reassured her that all customers would continue to be treated equally.

More to come.