Qld aged care crisis: Nursing homes failing our most vulnerable

A shocking government audit has revealed Queensland nursing home residents are being bashed, underfed, neglected and left in pain.

ELDERLY residents have been bashed, underfed, neglected and left in pain in Queensland nursing homes over the past year, alarming government audits reveal.

The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission ruled residents were at serious risk in 16 Queensland nursing homes that failed quality audits during 2018-19.

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One Brisbane facility was criticised for ongoing episodes of bruising and skin tears, and for failing to give residents enough to eat and drink.

Staff shortages left residents bedridden in pain with festering sores, refused access to doctors or drugged with the wrong medications.

An investigation by The Courier-Mail reveals one in every 30 nursing homes in Queensland placed the health, safety or wellbeing of residents at serious risk of harm in the past year.

In Brisbane, Madonna Villa Nursing Home, run by St Vincent’s Care Services in Mitchelton, was deemed a serious risk to residents in December after failing 26 of 44 quality standards, including clinical care.

Madonna Villa Nursing Home at Mitchelton

“The home is unable to demonstrate care recipients consistently receive adequate nutrition and hydration,” the report states.

“Care recipients are experiencing ongoing episodes of bruising, skin tears and limb oedema (swelling).

“Management and key clinical staff are not aware of the behavioural incidents of physical aggression which are occurring in the home.”

The commission lifted sanctions on the home after it passed a follow-up audit in April.

A St Vincent’s Care Services spokesman said: “We’ve worked very hard with our residents, their families, our staff and the Commission to address the issues.”

BUPA Cairns apologised yesterday after an audit revealed residents’ pain was not effectively managed.

BUPA Aged Care managing director Suzanne Dvorak said the home was very sorry and had responded to improve its care by hiring a full-time physiotherapist aide and training staff in pain management.

On the Gold Coast, Estia Health Mudgeeraba failed an audit in April it did not have appropriately skilled and qualified staff or a culture of reporting assaults.

“Care recipients do not feel safe due to wandering and aggressive behaviours … by care recipients,” the report said.

Estia chief customer officer Damian Hiser said the commission had visited the home again this month and the assessors were satisfied.

Bupa Cairns was one of the facilities highlighted.

Blue Care’s nursing home in Redcliffe, run by the Uniting Church, failed nine quality standards, including staffing and pain management, in a May audit that criticised staff shortages and a failure to assist some residents with meals.

Inspectors also identified a serious risk to residents at Blue Care’s Emerald centre, which failed 16 standards including clinical care, pain and medication management, staffing and infection control.

The inspectors warned in May some residents were being left in pain and that the sick were not being sent to appropriate health specialists.

“Appropriate clinical care has not been provided,” the audit found.

A Blue Care spokesman said the problems were being resolved and the service was continuing our work to ensure both homes not only meet but exceed the expectations of our residents, their families and the community”.

The commission is refusing to reveal how many of Queensland’s 480 homes failed quality audits last year, but The Courier Mail used the commission database to identify 16 of the worst breaches.

State Health Minister Stephen Miles demanded the Federal Government mandate the number of nurses required for aged-care patients.

“The Commonwealth is responsible for regulating and funding aged care but for too long they have let private companies run riot, standing idly by while they cut their staff and services in the pursuit of greater profit,’’ he said.

Federal Aged Care Minister Richard Colbeck said yesterday ensuring the safety and care of aged-care residents was his highest priority.