Aged care watchdog report finds 26 per pcent increase in neglect notifications in residential homes
Aged care staff are being asked to study a guide on neglect. Signs to look out for include residents with untended wounds, weight loss and fear. What, they need a guide to tell them that, asks Julie Cross?
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What the hell is happening in our aged care homes?
The number of notifications about neglect have increased by a quarter in the 12 months since September 2023, according to the latest report from the aged care watchdog.
The guidelines state that neglect in aged care homes can include things like withholding personal care, failing to treat wounds, or insufficient assistance during meals.
Last year the watchdog launched an impact tool to better help carers realise something might be up. It says if someone is lonely, bored, fearful or has feelings of worthlessness, they could be suffering from neglect.
It’s a worrying state of affairs if staff need a guide to tell them if someone has festering wounds and is living in a state of fear there could be a problem.
And this has happened during a period when Labor’s mandatory care minute targets came into force in October 2023, aimed at ensuring residents got more care, not less.
Just this month I wrote about how the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission was cracking down on homes who are getting extra government money, but not spending it on providing care for residents.
Billions of public money has been ploughed into aged care since 2022, but only a quarter of for-profit aged care providers and half of not-for-profit providers are meeting both their registered nurse and total care minute targets.
There are 27 homes, operated by 11 providers, under enforceable undertakings, which are legally binding, in relation to failing their care minutes targets.
Yes, there is a workforce shortage and it is particularly hard for providers to recruit in regional and rural areas. But all these homes bar one are run for profit, and all are in metropolitan areas surrounded by other providers who are meeting their targets. So, no excuses really.
The watchdog has demanded some of the providers immediately recruit more nursing and care staff.
Meanwhile, the quarterly report goes on to state that unreasonable use of force – things like hitting, pushing, shoving or rough handling – continues to be the most commonly reported incident under the Serious Incident Response Scheme (SIRS).
The helpful guide suggests there could be something wrong if a resident has bruising, skin tears, swelling, a fractured or dislocated limb, pain, head strike, black eye, nosebleed, split lip, or they have become fearful, mistrusting, withdrawn or teary.
The new rights-based Aged Care Act coming into force on July 1, promises to put older people firmly at the centre of their aged care experience. Let’s hope that happens.
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Originally published as Aged care watchdog report finds 26 per pcent increase in neglect notifications in residential homes
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