Industry stretched: Woolgoolga Aged Care Centre freezes new admissions

The face of the crisis challenging the aged care sector is keenly felt at Woolgoolga Aged Care Centre, which has reluctantly had to stop accepting any new residents. Here’s why.

A “perfect mix” of critical issues within the aged-care sector is leading Mid-North Coast workers to quit and find other jobs.

Unsafe workloads, low wages and a lack of staffing are contributing to aged care staffers feeling unable to do their jobs properly.

The strain has become so great that Woolgoolga Aged Care Centre CEO Sasha Andrews has been forced to stop admitting new residents.

Ms Andrews, 56, has been working in aged care for 28 years and said the job is “harder than it's ever been”.

“It’s gruelling out there, the pandemic hit us and the level of expectation increased,” she said.

Woolgoolga Aged Care Centre staff (from left) Samantha Woodward, Sandra Thorpe, Trina Golik and Sasha Andrews. Picture: supplied.

NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association (NSWNMA) general secretary Brett Holmes said urgent reform was needed.

“Tackling the crisis in aged care has never been more important. The sector has been ignored for too long and the widespread neglect is a human rights issue - it cannot continue,” Mr Holmes said.

He said a lack of staffing meant staff are unable to do their jobs effectively.

“The impact of short staffing means residents are forced to wait long periods when seeking assistance or help and there’s not enough time to properly feed or shower residents,” Mr Holmes said.

Fifty per cent of workers indicated injuries or falls had occurred due to short staffing.

Janice Wilson, and resident Elma Miller, age 106, at Woolgoolga Aged Care Centre.

Ms Andrews said she was “unsurprised” that 75 per cent of aged care workers – according to NSWNMA – are considering a career change unless “urgent reforms” occur.

“We struggle. You can earn more money packing shelves at Coles,” she said.

More than 80 per cent of respondents said they were short staffed and felt their ability to provide “adequate care to residents was impacted”.

Ms Andrews said the decision to halt admission of new residents was difficult but necessary, as the burden on staff is “horrendous”.

“We pride ourselves on top quality care but we can’t achieve that with the lack of bodies,” she said.

With three years of consistent recruitment - her hardworking staff are feeling the pressure.

“We can’t keep up. Staff are leaving at a greater rate.”

She said older staff are burning out as new graduates require a lot of time and energy to train – then often leave before long due to stress.

“It comes back to government funding. I’m disappointed in both parties for their responses to aged care,” Ms Andrews said.

She said the career is “noble” and workers do it because they love it – but are being pushed away by poor working conditions.

“It’s emotional, stressful and we’re stretched,” she said.

Trina Golik and resident Ivy Reid. Picture: supplied

Alternative careers such as home care, disability services and in the hospital sector pay more, and Mrs Andrews says the workload is typically less difficult.

She said Covid resulted in more work, and heightened expectation on aged care workers.

“We had no surge staffing available during Covid, due to a shortage of staffing across all of Australia,” Ms Andrews said.

Many aged care workers are opting for part-time to avoid stress and burnout.

She said most aged care providers are “in the red”, and are restricted in funding.

“We are heavily legislated on where we can obtain our funding from, and there is a high level of compliance to go through to maintain our funding,” she said.

Aged care workers will strike on May 10 - with a call for action mere weeks before the federal election.