Fears for aged-care services

The Willetton pensioner is worried about what will happen to aged care services if the cities of Canning and Melville were to merge.

‘Nobody has any empathy for the frail and aged people,’ Mrs Jacobson said.

‘Dr Nahan is trying to put people against other people. He doesn’t realise that any change like this, as you get older, is big.’

The Caprice Place resident said aged-care services had always been a short walk away and she was concerned that would change.

‘My husband drives for Meals and Wheels and we deliver meals around Rossmoyne; that area will be affected too,’ Mrs Jacobsen said.

‘The City of Melville has privatised their Meals on Wheels; they say there will be no change, but that is rubbish because that is the whole point of the exercise.’

Mrs Jacobson is also concerned mergers will lead to increased rates, with the flow-on effect being an increase in the cost of goods and services.

With an unlikely increase to her pension, she is worried she will not be able to afford living costs.

She is continuing her fight for Canning to remain a stand-alone council, stating the City adhered to all criteria needed to remain separate from both the City of Melville and City of Gosnells.

‘We haven’t got a council,’ Mrs Jacobson said.

‘We have no council representations. We have a commissioner and staff.

‘We should have a council and they should get that sorted first before they consider doing something with it.’