List of Qld aged care providers told to improve by Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission

Two aged care services in Queensland have been slammed by the watchdog for some shocking practices. See the list of their errors.

A woman was allowed to be tied to her wheelchair with a luggage belt, the aged care watchdog found.

The elderly woman who has dementia and has lost 27 kilos in the last 18 months lives with her husband.

Auditors assessing aged care service provider, Home Care Assistance Gold Coast, found the woman’s carers were “guided by the consumer’s husband”.

He managed his wandering spouse “through the use of restrictive practices including medication as prescribed by the medical officer, locked doors to restrict external access, the use of a luggage belt to restrain the consumer in her wheelchair and the use of a bench beside the bed to prevent the consumer getting out overnight”.

The aged care provider has been told to improve its care and will be closely monitored until November.

Aged care services have been sanctioned across Australia.

The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission report published in June found there “was no evidence of referrals to appropriate health professionals to help with her weight loss or her behaviour”.

The auditors said in its report that a number of other clients lacked confidence “that the staff would know what to do if something ‘went wrong’”.

They found there was currently no system for monitoring criminal history checks and drivers’ licences of staff.

Management said while the service provided evidence that criminal history checks are undertaken for all members of the workforce, there is currently no system for monitoring expiry dates.

Home Care Assistance Gold Coast was told by the watchdog it would have to hire

an adviser for at least six months to train staff in a number of areas such as care planning and restraining difficult residents.

St Nicholas Aged Care Service in Highgate Hill, Brisbane.

Meanwhile, St Nicholas Aged Care, in Highgate Hill, was sanctioned following its audit, meaning it is not allowed any Commonwealth subsidies for new residents for a three-month period.

It was found to be failing in a number of areas, including safe and effective personal and clinical care, restrictive practices, chemical restraint and mechanical restraint management.

It has been ordered to hire an adviser to provide extra training for staff.

United Workers Union director Carolyn Smith. Supplied

United Workers Union Director Carolyn Smith said understaffing “continues to be a grave threat to the wellbeing and safety of aged care residents in aged care facilities generally”.

“The problems facing residents are even greater in those facilities – both for-profit and not-for-profit – that run on shoestring budgets, cutting costs even further with skeleton staffing, appalling food and under-resourcing care essentials such as linen.

“Aged care workers are the first to call for improved training in their workplaces, and are sick of being asked to fulfil responsibilities they are not trained for.”

Lynda Saltarelli, a spokeswoman for advocacy group Aged Care Crisis, said what some elderly people were enduring inside some of these homes was heartbreaking.

“Nothing has changed before or since the Royal Commission,” Ms Saltarelli said.

“Aged care in this country is an illusion.”

News Corp approached the aged care providers for comment.

SEE THE LIST

Home Care Assistance Gold Coast, 82 Marine Parade SOUTHPORT QLD 4215

Notice to Agree: 9 May, 2022 to 9 November, 2022

What they are required to do: Hire an adviser for at least six months to train staff in care planning and documentation, assessment and review processes, falls management, weight loss, clinical monitoring and response to clinical deterioration, behaviour management, management of restrictive practice, clinical oversight and governance.

St Nicholas Aged Care, 19 Hampstead Road HIGHGATE HILL QLD 4101

Sanction: Not eligible to receive Commonwealth subsidies for any new residents for three months.

23 August, 2022 to 23 February, 2023

What they are required to do: Hire an adviser for at least six months to train staff in safe and effective personal and clinical care and effective management of high-impact or high-prevalence risks, restrictive practices, chemical restraint and mechanical restraint management