Covid-19 in ‘half of all aged care’ homes within weeks peak body ACSA says

The state’s aged care sector has warned of a looming emergency, with 44 Queensland facilities grappling with Covid outbreaks and more than half expected to be overrun within weeks. SEE WHERE THE OUTBREAKS ARE

Coronavirus will be rampant in more than half of all aged care homes within weeks a peak body has warned, with residents at risk amid an “emergency situation” caused by the Omicron surge.

In Queensland, 44 out of 500 aged care facilities were currently grappling with Covid-19 outbreaks according to government data, with residents accounting for 17 of the state’s 45 pandemic deaths since December.

Aged and Community Services Australia CEO Paul Sadler has warned of a looming emergency. Picture: John Appleyard

The sector’s dedicated workforce is under significant pressure, with government data also revealing two-thirds of active Covid-19 cases within Queensland’s aged care facilities were among staff.

The federal government, amid Australia’s deadliest day of the pandemic, pulled the trigger on emergency arrangements with private hospitals in a bid to boost the frontline workforce.

Aged and Community Services Australia (ACSA) chief executive Paul Sadler said the sector’s dedicated workforce had been “pushed to the brink” amid serious staff shortages, a factor hitting residents’ quality of care.

“Put plainly, this is an emergency situation,” he said.

“I believe there is now a risk that we will have more than half of all aged care homes in Australia with outbreaks in the near future.

“It is vitally important that we complete the rollout of in-reach booster clinics to aged care homes within the next fortnight to give older people the best protection we can.”

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said activating emergency hospital arrangements meant 100,000 staff and 57,000 nurses employed within the country’s private health system can be, where needed, deployed to care for public patients.

“That will mean there will also be assistance available where necessary in any aged care facilities that require that additional workforce,” he said.

Mr Hunt said this was another lever to boost the aged care system, alongside a “surge workforce” which has resulted in the provision of 60,000 shifts.

But according to ACSA more investment is needed, with the current surge workforce unable to meet demand.

“We need the federal government and national cabinet to step in now and guarantee quality care for older Australians,” Mr Sadler said.

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ David Crosling

Mr Hunt also brushed away criticism including from Queensland counterpart Yvette D’Ath that the Commonwealth’s Covid-19 booster program in aged care had stalled.

He asserted the program was “ahead of schedule” and would be completed within the next few weeks.

The federal health department confirmed 330 out of 477 aged care facilities in Queensland had been visited by in-reach Covid-19 booster teams.

But Ms D’Ath also aired concerns about a third of residents seemingly turning down the opportunity to get the third jab, questioning if the federal government’s messaging had been ineffective.

“Are we not messaging properly? Are we not communicating with the residents and we’re not communicating with the families?” she said.