Oakden scandal: SA Minister Leesa Vlahos commits to build new aged care facility worth $14.7 million
A NEW aged-care mental health facility will be built in South Australia as the State Government attempts to improve a system under growing scrutiny in the wake of abuse revelations.
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A NEW aged-care mental health facility will be built in South Australia as the State Government attempts to improve a system under growing scrutiny in the wake of abuse revelations.
Mental Health Minister Leesa Vlahos on Sunday announced the Government would commit $14.7 million to designing and building a new older persons mental health home and developing new guidelines for caring for elderly dementia residents.
The funding includes $1 million for a scoping study to choose a site, design the facility and develop a new model of care, but Ms Vlahos would not say when the building might open.
It comes as residents of the government-run Oakden aged care mental health facility prepare to move to a new home at Northgate.
An investigation by the state’s Chief Psychiatrist found evidence of systemic abuse and mistreatment of elderly dementia residents at Oakden and the centre is now the subject of an inquiry by the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption and a parliamentary committee.
Ms Vlahos confirmed that 14 residents from Oakden would begin moving into a refurbished government-run home at Northgate within days.
Another 12 Oakden residents have already moved to privately run aged care homes.
Some staff who worked at the Oakden facility will move to work at Northgate, raising concerns that the culture of mistreatment may follow them.
Ms Vlahos stressed that she had a “zero tolerance” for elder abuse and this had been made clear to staff who would make the move.
There will also be “at least monthly” visits to the Northgate home by the office of the Community Visitor, to check on standards.
“It is imperative that the neglect that occurred at Oakden is never repeated and I am confident that a new model of care and a new facility will make a significant contribution towards this end,” Ms Vlahos said.
Barb Spriggs, whose husband Bob died after alleged mistreatment at Oakden, said any carers who had worked at Oakden must be closely monitored at Northgate and should undergo retraining.
“I just hope that they’re being very, very careful with the staff they get into Northgate because it seems that there’s still been some awful things going on at Oakden after all this scrutiny, which is just unbelievable,” Mrs Spriggs said.
“They have to be hand-picked people.
“It’s not an easy job but there are people out there with that passion for looking after people.”
Mrs Spriggs welcomed the pledge to build a new facility.
“We need something more modern, something that is purpose built,” she said.
“When my husband came to Oakden there was not choice, there was nowhere else for him to go.
“They’ve just to make sure that it actually happens.”
Opposition Leader Steven Marshall said a “fresh start” was needed at Northgate but did not go as far as to say that no former Oakden carers should be transferred there, as family members of residents had praised the attitude of some staff.
Mr Marshall labelled the Government’s almost $15 million investment as inadequate.
Opposition health spokesman Stephen Wade said it would not deliver enough new mental health aged care beds.
Mr Wade noted that the Chief Psychiatrist’s report called for 110 places across the system for serious elderly dementia patients and those with other mental illnesses.
Of the staff who worked at Oakden, 26 have been referred to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency for investigation.
A further eight are being investigated by SA Police and 10 by SA Health.
One former carer resigned and another one was fired.
The refurbishment of the 10-year-old Northgate building cost about $500,000.
There will be about six nursing staff rostered on per shift there, which is a similar ratio to that in hospitals.
New nursing staff will also be recruited.
Ms Vlahos said the State Government was “working towards” gaining federal accreditation for the Northgate facility, in order for it to be eligible for federal funding.
Until then, the cost is being borne by SA Health.