Gracehaven, Blue Care Pioneer nursing homes fail audits

Patients were left in soiled underwear for long periods while others were given ‘restraint’ medication without their prior informed consent, a new audit of Bundaberg’s nursing homes found. SEE THE REPORTS

Residents being chemically restrained without their informed consent and being left to live in soiled underwear were among several problems revealed at a number of Bundaberg nursing homes in their first federal audit since Covid.

The audit of Blue Care Pioneer aged care found the facility failed to comply in four of eight categories relating to dignity and choice, care, feedback and complaints and human resources.

It’s a steep decline for the facility’s performance after it was found almost fully compliant in its 2021 audit, with only one area of non-compliance reported.

Blue Care’s Gympie Grevillea Gardens was also found to be non-compliant in several areas.

Blue Care Pioneer has since offered its apologies to residents and families of both facilities after the findings of the investigation were released.

The audit of Bundaberg’s Blue Care Pioneer aged care found the facility failed to comply in four of eight categories relating to dignity and choice, care, feedback and complaints and human resources.

The latest audit for the nursing home found lengthy delays impacted the toileting and hygiene needs of residents, and resulted in them experiencing discomfort and being left in soiled incontinence aids for long periods of time.

Multiple staff said that there were insufficient staff which resulted in residents experiencing delays in care and service delivery and admitted that cares such as showering, shaving and continence aids changes could be delayed or missed.

When it came to communicating with residents, staff behaviour was also an issue.

Staff members told the assessment team they had witnessed other staff being rough during the delivery of care as they were rushed or had heard staff speaking disrespectfully to residents.

The management team has since advised the assessment team that the service is taking action to address staffing concerns and delays in care provision.

While the centre fell short in these areas, Blue Care Pioneer excelled in ongoing plan and assessment, in which they were deemed compliant.

“Care planning documentation reviewed by the Assessment Team demonstrated that assessment and care planning occurs for all consumers on entry to the service and is reviewed every three months and when changes occur,” the report said.

A Blue Care spokesperson told the NewsMail in a statement they had acted quickly to improve their service offerings at the Bundaberg Blue Care Pioneer Aged Care Facility.

“Following an Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (ACQSC) assessment, Blue Care Bundaberg Pioneer Aged Care Facility has been notified it did not meet some of the Aged Care Accreditation Standards. The health and wellbeing of our residents is at the heart of our service philosophy,” the statement reads.

“Blue Care is taking this matter seriously and recognises the ongoing challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and sector wide workforce shortages.

“Informed by the ACQSC’s audit findings and our own internal review, we have acted swiftly and comprehensively to improve the standard of care at Blue Care Bundaberg Pioneer Aged Care Facility.

“We regret these findings and sincerely apologise to residents and their families that their home did not meet some of the quality standards. We aim to provide the care and environment our residents and their families rightly expect and deserve.

“Blue Care Bundaberg Pioneer Aged Care Facility’s accreditation remains in place. Improvement actions are well progressed and we are determined to ensure that care standards at Blue Care Bundaberg Pioneer Aged Care Facility not only meet but exceed the expectations of our residents and their families. We are working openly and transparently with the ACQSC, the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care, our residents and their families to complete improvements at the site.”

Churches of Christs’ Gracehaven Aged Care Facility in Bundaberg failed to comply in five of eight categories relating to dignity and choice, care, feedback and complaints, human resources and governance.

The nursing home’s 2022 audit found five residents and their representatives were not provided with enough information to ensure informed consent was gained prior to chemical restraint being used on them.

In another incident, a resident returned to the aged care facility after spending 18 days in hospital and lost 9.6kg.

The hospital started the resident on food and fluid monitoring charts before being sent back to the nursing home.

The report found food and fluid charting of the resident was not consistently recorded after returning from hospital, which did not allow for the accurate assessment of the resident’s intake.

Churches of Christs’ Gracehaven Aged Care Facility in Bundaberg failed to comply in five of eight categories relating to dignity and choice, care, feedback and complaints, human resources and governance.

Weighing of the resident was also a concern raised in the audit, stating “...despite directives to reweigh this consumer following their return from hospital, this did not occur”.

The report stated management was not aware of the consumer’s rapid weight loss and referral processes were not activated until after feedback by the Assessment Team.

Gracehaven was found to be compliant in ongoing planning and assessment, services, service environment and daily living.

“Consumers felt they belonged in the service and felt safe and comfortable in the service environment,” the report said.

“Consumers had access to call bells to alert staff if they need assistance. Consumers confirmed the service environment was clean, tidy and well maintained, and equipment and furniture provided was both safe, clean and suitable for their needs.

“Consumers could move freely inside and outside the service if they chose to do so.”

The NewsMail reached out to Gracehaven for a response, but no response was given by the deadline.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission temporarily modified its Regulatory Program, including the suspension of site audits to determine whether to accredit, not to re-accredit or vary the periods of accreditation for a service.

The following aged care facilities were given “exceptional circumstances for re-accreditation” but remain subject to compliance monitoring by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission:

- Anglicare SQ Meilene Home For The Aged at Kalkie

- Carinity Kepnock Grove

- TriCare Bundaberg Aged Care Residence