Huge increase in complaints to aged care watchdog since virus outbreak

Complaints to the aged care watchdog have soared by almost 50 per cent since the start of the coronavirus outbreak, as the sector steels itself for a second wave of COVID-19.

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Complaints to the national aged care watchdog about the care of elderly people in residential homes have surged since the coronavirus outbreak.

Departmental figures obtained by Labor reveal there were 747 complaints to the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission in April — up from 506 at the start of the year.

With the latest data showing there were already 386 complaints by May 17, the upward trend is expected to continue.

Senior Man in Wheelchair looking out of a window in a hospital corridor. Elder abuse. Picture: iStock

The increase comes as the NSW aged care sector steels itself for a second wave of COVID-19 after the deaths of 19 residents at Newmarch House aged care facility earlier this year.

In Victoria, doctors and aged care specialists have warned of a staffing crisis in Melbourne’s nursing homes, with the Australian Medical Association (AMA) calling for urgent action to protect the frail and elderly.

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Of the seven deaths recorded in Victoria on Friday, five were linked to aged care facilities. National Seniors chief advocate Ian Henschke said he believed many of the complaints related to families being unable to visit their loved ones.

While the initial lockdowns had been justified, there were now measures facilities could put in place to ensure visits could still continue.

With many residents in the last stages of life, Mr Henschke said it was vital they were able to continue to see their families and not feel imprisoned.

“Zoom (video conferencing) is not the same,” he said.

Nineteen residents at Newmarch House died after an outbreak of coronavirus at the aged care facility. Picture: Jeremy Piper. NCA Newswire

The organisation is urging the aged care sector to adopt a new industry code aimed at protecting residents, staff and visitors with measures such as mandatory flu injections, visitor limits and designated visiting areas.

Opposition ageing spokeswoman Julie Collins said the surge in complaints was evidence of how “broken” the aged care system was in Australia.

Originally published as Huge increase in complaints to aged care watchdog since virus outbreak