Family looks for answers after beloved granny dies of Covid at Jeta Gardens

A family of a Jeta Gardens resident has told of the shock and pain of not being told their grandmother had been diagnosed with Covid until two days before she died.

The family of an elderly woman who died after contracting Covid at a Queensland nursing home say they were robbed of her last days and were not told she had tested positive for the virus.

Jeta Gardens, south of Brisbane, was the subject of federal regulatory action on the weekend after 15 residents died from Covid.

Resident Ruth Symes was one of those who died after testing positive to Covid on January 26, and dying a week later.

Ruth Symes with her son Adam Symes and; with her family, son Adam, step granddaughter Sarah and daughter-in-law Carol Willcox on a day out from Jeta Gardens.

Her family found out the 89-year-old great-grandmother had contracted the virus when they visited her on her deathbed, two days before she died.

They paid their last respects to Mrs Symes at a wake on Saturday and daughter-in-law Carol Willcox said relatives were in shock.

Ms Willcox said the family was looking for answers and they did not know if Mrs Symes had been vaccinated before she died

Jeta Gardens Aged Care home at Bethania was where Ruth Symes contracted Covid. PHOTO: Annette Dew

The family had not seen Mrs Symes since December before part of the nursing home went into lockdown on January 1, after the first resident contracted the virus.

“Jeta Gardens called at 9am on Monday (January 31) wanting to send Ruth to hospital but we said no because a doctor would be visiting her on Tuesday and the staff had said the doctor would probably want to start end-of-life care so we didn’t want her moved,” Ms Willcox said.

“If we had known she had Covid on Monday we would have definitely approved of sending her to a hospital.

“We believe Ruth had been to the lounge when she had Covid.

“I know it’s a pandemic but it’s out of hand now.”

A memo emailed to families on January 9. Mrs Symes was found to have Covid on January 26.

Ms Willcox, along with her stepson Tate Symes, arrived at the Bethania home around 4pm last Monday and had to dress in PPE.

Grandma Ruth Symes' daughter-in-law Carol Willcox and grandson Tate Symes in PPE at Jeta Gardens to visit Mrs Symes before she died on February 2 after being diagnosed with Covid on January 26.

But even then, nobody told them Mrs Symes had Covid.

It wasn’t until they were in Mrs Symes’ room that a case manager told them she had tested positive on January 26.

Confused and unsure, Ms Willcox checked with the nurses at the nursing station.

One nurse said Mrs Symes did not have Covid but another confirmed she had tested positive on Australia Day.

The family said they had been pleased with the nursing home until then and staff had been helpful and kind.

Staff at Jeta Gardens Aged Care facility. PHOTO: Annette Dew

Ms Willcox said she filled out forms consenting to Covid vaccinations for Ms Symes in March 2021 but a month later her mother-in-law still had not been vaccinated.

Ms Willcox said the family never received confirmation from Jeta Gardens about Mrs Symes’ vaccination status.

Jeta Gardens said it was still checking on the claims.

“We will look into this case, and the timing of communication to the resident and their family,” the nursing home said.

The death toll at the nursing home was also called into question with initial reports of 17 deaths later scaled back to 15.

Jeta Gardens said there were ongoing discussions between management and federal health authorities about the correct reporting of deaths from Covid as opposed to deaths with Covid.

Management said the ongoing media attention was causing great distress to residents and staff.

“There have been no new cases of Covid for the past five days, and supported by the Federal Government we have additional resources in place to ensure we are in the best position possible to prevent another outbreak,” management said.

“Jeta Gardens appointed a small team of specialist clinical advisers on Friday, February 4 who are already working closely alongside our management team.”