Federal Commission says Kindred Living aged care home at Whyalla poses a ‘immediate and severe risk’ to residents

A federal report found an a “immediate and severe risk” to residents at a Whyalla care home, where staff must now undergo training and report to an adviser.

A Whyalla aged care home posed “immediate and severe risk” to residents, a federal agency has ruled, after it came under fire over claims of a scabies outbreak.

Kindred Living’s Annie Lockwood Court site was put under scrutiny in late November. The allegations against it centred around “Cottage Three”, where whistleblowers alleged all eight residents had Norwegian scabies, a contagious skin infestation.

One whistleblower claimed several staff members also caught scabies, which they claim was a continuing issue for up to three years.

The claims prompted an investigation by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission.

The Sunday Mail can reveal its report identified “an immediate and severe risk to the safety, health or wellbeing of care recipients” within the Whyalla home.

It found shortcomings in eight standards of care, including “consumer dignity and choice”, personal and clinical care, feedback and complaints, and human resources.

Kindred Living is now required to provide training for all employees on falls management, choking, malnutrition, personal care and infection control practices, among other areas. The centre was required to provide a written training plan to the commission on January 7.

The commission also has to be notified of a successful training outcome by June 23, and staff must participate in weekly teleconferences with advisers.

Kindred Living Annie Lockwood Court aged care facility was investigated by federal authorities after allegations of poor conditions and a scabies outbreak.

One whistleblower claimed several staff members also caught scabies, which they claim was a continuing issue for up to three years.

The report also says that families were advised of its findings on Christmas Eve.

The commission appointed an adviser to Kindred Living on December 29 last year.

Aged care advocate Stewart Johnston, who helped expose the Oakden abuse scandal, said the “diabolic” failure of the aged-care home to provide a basic level of care to residents was appalling.

“There is vindication but no justice for families and staff that came forward, because management at the facility still have their jobs,” he said.

Last month, Kindred Living chief executive Juanita Walker said she had received the findings of the investigation.

“The commission found three areas of non-compliance in the more than 50 care outcomes,” she said at the time. “Two related to personal and clinical care and the third related to an aspect of the service environment.”

Ms Walker said all issues were “mitigated and there is no risk to the wellbeing of residents related to the noncompliances”.

She did not respond to requests for comment on Saturday.

Late last year, Peter Strawbridge told The Advertiser he was devastated when his wife Heather Adey, who lives with dementia at the facility, contracted scabies.

Whistleblowers alleged all eight residents had Norwegian scabies, a contagious skin infestation.

Mr Strawbridge said some staff tried to blame him for his wife’s rashes.

“I used to walk her up and down the footpath outside … and they said it was my fault and it was no more than mosquito bites,” he said.

The national royal commission into the aged care industry will hand down its report on February 26.

Mr Johnston said problems in the industry were systemic across the country.

He said the “culture of secrecy” within the aged care system made it difficult for staff and whistleblowers to come forward.

“The aged care system is built on money, power and silence,” Mr Johnston said.