State Government-run Riverland aged care facilities Bonney Lodge and Hawdon House receive damning reports from auditor
A state-run aged care facility has only met about half its expected outcomes – with auditors noting some problems that the Minister called “very disappointing”.
A Riverland aged care facility has been given a year to lift its standards, despite a damning report that found poor handling of medication and fears of assaults.
The Federal Government’s Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission has released two detailed reports into Barmera’s co-located Bonney Lodge and Hawdon House facilities.
It found each had met only 23 of 44 expected outcomes and their accreditation periods have been cut from September 2021 to August next year.
It followed audits in June.
The Advertiser on Monday revealed that unannounced audits were leading to a huge increase in SA aged care facilities receiving sanctions from the federal Health Department.
State Health and Wellbeing Minister Stephen Wade said the alarming findings about the state-run Riverland facility were “very disappointing” and failed the “high standards we all expect”.
Some of the most concerning observations include that residents with significant weight gain or loss were not being referred to dietitians for help, medication had not been managed safely and correctly and the people who said they were in pain were not getting adequate relief.
There is also concern about staff or residents being physically harmed.
“Staff interviewed stated they are not always able to manage care recipients with physically aggressive behaviours which impact other care recipients and staff,” the report states.
“The service does not manage care recipients with challenging behaviours effectively.
“One care recipient representative had not been informed of a recent assault on their care recipient.
“Care recipients impacted by physical assaults are not provided appropriate emotional support or monitoring after assaults occur.”
Expired medication had also been given to residents due to ineffective stock management. “Care recipients with ongoing skin integrity deficits are not always referred to specialist services for review in a timely manner,” the report states.
“Care recipients with low blood glucose levels are not always referred to their medical officer for review of their diabetic management.
“Care recipients are not always effectively reviewed and assessed for pain when they are exhibiting challenging behaviours ... (or) administered pain relieving medications.”
The State Government promised a significant improvement in the quality of aged care following the Oakden scandal, which was the subject of multiple damning inquiries.
The Federal Government has also launched an Aged Care Quality and Safety Royal Commission, which is due to deliver an interim report by the end of October, and pledged stronger oversight of the sector to prevent mistreatment like that of Oakden going unchecked.
Mr Wade said the SA Health division in charge of the Riverland facility had “acted immediately to implement change”, after becoming aware of the failures.
“We welcome this audit which is holding our aged care facilities to account and will result in better care for residents and their families,” he said.
“While we are disappointed, this shows the system is working.”
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Riverland Mallee Coorong Local Health Network chief executive Wayne Champion said there had been swift action to “minimise any risk to the safety and wellbeing of our residents”.
“We have established a specific regional aged care director of nursing role for the LHN and appointed an additional nurse unit manager role to strengthen services on the ground,” he said.
Opposition health spokesman Chris Picton said it was “an indictment” of the Government.
“Answers must be provided about how patients have been left without their basic needs such as medication management and adequate food and water being left unmet,” he said.
Four SA facilities are currently sanctioned, including the State Government-run Ira Parker Nursing Home in the Mid-North, where a resident died after a fire in her bedroom.
The list also includes Bupa’s Campbelltown facility, Rosha’s Kiandra Residential Aged Care at Prospect and Brompton’s St Anna’s Residential Care Facility.
Sanctioned facilities are not allowed to receive Commonwealth subsidies for new residents for at least six months.
AGED CARE HOMES CURRENTLY FACING SANCTIONS: