Japara Wyong: Central Coast nursing home sanctioned for coronavirus standards
A Central Coast nursing home, named among 14 across NSW which failed to meet crucial COVID-19 standards during the first coronavirus wave, has announced it is closing anyway.
Central Coast
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Japara Wyong has been slapped with sanctions by the Aged Care Quality Commission for failing to meet COVID-19 standards between March 1 and May 31.
The Commission imposed sanctions on the Mardi-based nursing home on March 13, after identifying “an immediate and severe risk to the safety, health or wellbeing of care recipients”.
It found the nursing home failed to meet standards for clinical and personal care, infection control and governance.
The facility was ordered to provide “relevant training” at its expense within six months and was made ineligible for Commonwealth subsidies for any new aged care residents in that time.
Australian Stock Exchange listed Japara Aged Care purchased the nursing home, formally known as Wyong Aged Care Facility, in 2018.
A spokesman said the company made the decision to close the doors of its Wyong facility in July irrespective of the Commission finding it’s COVID-19 standard were not compliant.
“Wyong has been part of Japara since 2018,” the spokesman said.
“In that time we have had have had one goal in mind — striving to deliver the highest standard of care and service.
“Despite our best efforts since we acquired the home, these goals were hampered by the building’s inherent physical limitations and the continued operational challenges.”
“After a great deal of work since 2018, in early July we formed a view that our only option was to close the home. The final timing of the closure will be driven by ensuring our current residents have appropriate and agreed residential outcomes.”
The Aged Care Quality Commission stung 104 homes across Australia with noncompliance notices, leaving many operators scrambling to get standards up to scratch before a second wave of the pandemic sweeps the nation.