Public hearing told of mother’s aged care challenges

A Mackay woman has opened up about the challenges her mother has alleged faced in aged care

An estimated 120,000 older Australians waiting for a home care package

CAROL Single has opened up about the inadequate care and challenges her mother has allegedly faced during the past decade at an East Mackay aged care facility.

At Tuesday's public hearing held in Mackay as part of a Queensland Parliament inquiry, Ms Single recalled how her mother did most things herself and enjoyed activities such as bus trips and long walks in her first few years at Good Shepherd Lodge.

However, she claimed in February 2012 it was advised by staff that her mother be put in "full lock up" immediately.

In December 2012, Ms Single's mother developed a rash all over her body, with medication given to treat it.

"I alerted management that there appeared to be a problem as she was having constant diarrhoea," Ms Single said at the Voluntary Assisted Dying, Aged Care and Palliative Care Inquiry.

She said a doctor advised the medication should be stopped and only given when required.

However, five years later, Ms Single said it was revealed, after contacting the chemist, the medication was still being given to her mother daily.

As the family was allegedly initially refused access to her care plan and health records, they assumed her chronic diarrhoea was related to bowel surgery she had had decades earlier.

"This resulted in five years of unnecessary hell, suffering, pain, stress and humiliation, with exploding bowels six to eight times a day," Ms Single said.

This experience, as well as others, has led Ms Single to call for resident to staff ratios and unannounced inspections at Queensland aged care facilities to be made mandatory.

Ms Single claimed at the hearing that she also assisted an elderly woman at the Good Shepherd Lodge who had been screaming for help because she was falling out of bed and drenched in urine and faeces.

"I wrapped a blanket around her, pushed the buzzer, but still no one came," she said.

"There was only two assistants in nursing on shift that whole night for 43 residents.

"Somebody has got to go into these homes and really look at what is happening behind the scenes, behind those closed doors."

However, Ms Single has thanked the nurses and carers at Good Shepherd Lodge who she said "had done their best to look after our loved ones while dealing with obvious understaffing".

Over the past decade, Ms Single said she had attempted to improve conditions at the facility through many meetings with management as well as attending aged care assessments reviews.

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