Aged care inquiry recommends nursing homes should have nurses on duty 24 hours a day
THE Oakden scandal wasn’t an isolated event, according to an inquiry which calls for significant reforms to the aged care sector — including forcing residential facilities to have a nurse on-site around the clock.
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THE Oakden scandal wasn’t an isolated event, according to an inquiry which calls for more reforms to the residential aged care sector to protect vulnerable nursing home residents.
A House of Representatives committee inquiry has called for mandatory reporting of all assault allegations in nursing homes and for residential facilities to have at least one registered nurse on-site, 24 hours per day.
The report has been tabled in Federal Parliament as preparations continue for an Adelaide-based royal commission into aged care in Australia.
Parliamentary inquiry chair and Liberal MP Trent Zimmerman said major reforms to aged care had already been introduced in the wake of inquiries into the Oakden Older Persons Mental Health Service, where residents were assaulted, over-medicated and neglected.
“While perhaps the worst example, Oakden cannot be seen as an isolated event,’’ Mr Zimmerman said in the report.
“Investigative reporting has highlighted other serious examples of mistreatment and this inquiry has received submissions from residents and family members often outlining what can only be described as harrowing experiences.
“This is simply not acceptable in a nation like Australia.’’
Mr Zimmerman said some aged care residents and their families and nursing home staff were afraid to speak out about substandard care because of fears about retribution.
The inquiry called for mandatory reporting of all assaults of nursing home residents, including assaults by cognitively impaired residents which are currently exempt from reporting.
At least one registered nurse would have to be on duty in nursing homes at all times and “restrictive practices” to restrain residents would only be permitted as a last resort.
The committee also recommended changes to the Medicare Benefits Schedule to help ensure aged care residents had access to medical care from visiting doctors.
In 2016-17, 2853 notifications of reportable assaults in aged care homes were made to the
Department of Health.
Steve Georganas, the Labor MP for the South Australian seat of Hindmarsh, was deputy chair of the parliamentary inquiry.
The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety has begun recruiting staff.
The commission is due to provide an interim report to the Federal Government by October 31, 2019 and a final report by April 30, 2020.