Aboriginal elders aged care village at Davoren Park investigation after scabies scare
AN urgent investigation has been launched into a northern suburbs aged care facility amid claims of neglect after an elderly resident contracted the contagious skin disease scabies.
AN urgent investigation has been launched into a northern suburbs aged care facility amid claims of neglect after an elderly resident contracted the contagious skin disease scabies.
A member of the woman’s family says he’s unaware whether action has been taken to protect dozens of other residents currently living in the Aboriginal Elders Village at Davoren Park.
Isabel Norvill, 77, was diagnosed with scabies on March 29 after her doctor observed “extensive” sores on her back, up to two months after her family claims she started complaining of itchiness.
Federal Minister for Aged Care and Indigenous Health Ken Wyatt this week confirmed a welfare check of the facility’s residents was a top priority.
“I am aware of the issues that have been raised regarding the Elders Village and I am advised that the Aged Care Quality Agency will be visiting the facility as a matter of urgency,” Mr Wyatt told The Advertiser.
“The Federal Department of Health has also already been in contact with the facility to follow up on these allegations.
“I am awaiting a full report on the allegations regarding the Elders Village.”
Aboriginal Elders Village executive director Graham Aitken said he was aware of the allegations, which had also been aired on social media.
“We’re refuting those (allegations),” he said.
“We’ve been defamed as an organisation on social media (and) we’ve had no ability to respond.”
The organisation’s lawyer Rebecca Butler denied the resident had been mistreated.
“Of course she has not been treated with neglect,” she said.
Family members of Ms Norvill disagreed, saying the woman who suffers from slight dementia began complaining of itchiness on her back two months ago.
Her son Paul Norvill, 54, of Moana, and his sister took her to see a skin specialist after seeing the sores on Sunday, March 26.
The specialist then diagnosed Ms Norvill with scabies, a highly contagious skin disease caused by itch mites and transmitted through skin contact.
“My sister jumped back two feet and ... screamed then swore when she saw my mother’s back,” Mr Norvill said.
“(The tiny red sores) were from her scalp to between her toes.”
He alleged his elderly mother had told him there were insects crawling out of her sores in previous weeks.
The following day, Mr Norvill went back to the nursing home where he said he complained to the manager and claims he found bugs in his mother’s bed.
“There were ants, two or three types of insects and the bed was already made,” he said.
He alleged he saw two other residents at the home scratching and “digging” at sores on their skin.
“I asked (the manager) how can you treat elders like this?” he said.
Mr Norvill said he had not been notified whether a doctor was called to examine other residents or the home had taken steps to get rid of the mites.
The Elders Village, managed by Aboriginal Community Care SA and funded by the federal health department, reported “positive results from our quality reviews” in their 2015-2016 annual report.
Mr Norvill said he was organising to move his mother out of the home, who was a member of the Stolen Generation and was well respected in her adviser role in the South Australia’s Aboriginal Health Research Ethics Committee since 1986.
“She helped found the Aboriginal Elders Village and it’s ironic what has happened there,” he said.
