Aged care breaches: St Jude’s Health Care Services homes sanctioned

An aged care home where residents felt embarrassed by the smell will not receive funding to take on new residents for several months after the watchdog swooped. Search the list

Dozens of aged care homes have been found non-compliant with quality standards.

An Australian aged care home where elderly people reported feeling embarrassed by the smell and not treated with respect has failed to meet any of the industry’s quality standards and been slapped with a sanction that means it won’t take on new residents.

The aged care watchdog found at Carinya of Bicton, in an affluent suburb of Perth and operated by St Jude’s Health Care Services, incidents involving possible abuse or neglect are not consistently identified, reported and responded to.

It issued the provider with a sanction that means the facility will not receive government funding to take on new residents until mid-July.

The provider is required to appoint a specialist adviser, train staff in areas related to the noncompliance, participate in weekly meetings with the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission and provide regular written reports.

The watchdog visited in December, followed by an unannounced audit in January.

The eight quality standards comprise 42 requirements, and the facility was non-compliant with 38 of these.

In February and March, the commission handed down noncompliance decisions for about 45 aged care services, including residential facilities and home programs, around Australia.

St Jude’s Health Care Services managing director Binu Joseph said the organisation acquired Carinya of Bicton in early 2024 and had since worked hard to maintain high standards of care.

“A new management team and adviser have been appointed, and significant progress has been made, supported by regular stakeholder meetings including with the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission,” he said.

A report by a delegate of the commissioner said examples reflective of Carinya of Bicton residents’ concerns included failure to provide items needed within their reach; excessive waiting times impacting care; and residents wearing soiled items or clothing belonging to others.

It revealed facility management said time sensitive drugs had not been monitored and staff had not received training to understand the importance of administering medications on time.

“For one consumer, time sensitive medications were administered late on 21 occasions, ranging from 40 minutes to 2 hours 27 minutes, over a 15-day period in December,” the report said.

“At the site audit, deficits relating to provision of personal and clinical care, including restrictive practices, skin integrity and wound care, pain, personal hygiene and continence were identified.

“Care provided was not consistently tailored to consumers’ needs nor did it optimise their health and wellbeing.”

The delegate wrote the home was “not welcoming” and several residents confirmed they were unable to navigate it independently and found the floor plan confusing.

“One consumer confirmed they stayed in their room as they often got lost,” the report said.

Residents also felt “embarrassed” by the smell.

Mr Joseph said St Jude’s was confident Carinya of Bicton was on the right track and well positioned for continued improvement.

“St Jude’s has committed $6m to a major refurbishment of the facility, with work already underway,” he said.

Another St Jude’s home in Perth, Guildford Village, was found non-compliant with three quality standards and also sanctioned.

Government subsidy for any new residents was suspended until late August, and an adviser to assist with the provider’s governance and business operations was also required.

Mr Joseph said an advisory service had been appointed to support management, and significant progress had been made in remedying noncompliances.

Originally published as Aged care breaches: St Jude’s Health Care Services homes sanctioned