NSW nursing homes currently facing sanctions revealed
Some of the state’s nursing homes have failed in their duty of care to elderly residents. See which facilities have been slapped with sanctions.
Macarthur
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Residents hitting each other, staffing issues and Covid outbreaks are just some of the issues identified at NSW nursing homes that has led a handful being labelled an “immediate and severe risk” to elderly residents.
The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission assesses and monitors quality of care and services against the Aged Care Quality Standards.
Currently, eight nursing homes in NSW have been listed with Notices to Agree or Sanctions after having failed to meet all of the 42 standards of care.
NURSING HOMES ON THE LIST
ST GEORGE AGED CARE CENTRE, Bexley
SCORE: 13/42 (passed 13 out of 42 standards of care)
St George Aged Care was sanctioned in March, and will not be eligible to receive commonwealth subsidies for any new care recipients at the service for a period of three months.
A report from the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission found there was an “immediate and severe risk to the safety, health or wellbeing” of care recipients.
The assessment team observed two consumers hit each other in the doorway to the lounge area in Rosella on March 1, 2022.
“This was reported to staff who collected urinalysis from the consumers, however, did not report this as an incident,” the report said.
“This was followed up the next day after reporting to management. The staff member that the assessor spoke to said they misunderstood the assessor.”
The assessment team also reviewed progress notes which showed residents were not consistently isolating in their rooms when Covid-19 positive.
The report found it was not demonstrated that the service had a workforce that was “sufficient, skilled and qualified” to provide safe, respectful and quality care and services.
Mark Cohen, general manager of St George Aged Care, said the facility received a sanction and notice to agree following an assessment visit from the commission in March.
“In response to the sanction and notice to agree, we have appointed external advisers to assist the home rectify all issues identified in the non compliance report,” he said.
“We like many other homes have faced a myriad of challenges as a result of Covid-19 in the past two years.
“It has been a very difficult time for aged care residents and staff and as an operator, we continue to deal with extremely challenging conditions.”
Mr Cohen said the management team and staff strived to provide the highest standard of care their “much-loved residents” and they were working closely with the advisers and commission to ensure residents receive the best care.
BRIAN KING GARDENS, Castle Hill
SCORE: 14/42
A report into Brian King Gardens found one resident was not checked on frequently enough which caused them to have multiple falls and multiple fractures.
“The service was unable to demonstrate effective management of falls, skin integrity, behaviours of concern and pain that reflects best practice,” the report said.
“Poor management of these areas of care have not optimised the health and wellbeing of consumers.
“For example, one consumer’s falls were caused due to staff actions such as leaving them on the toilet despite requiring full assistance and being classified as a high falls risk.”
The nursing home was contacted for comment and did not respond by deadline.
LARK ELLEN AGED CARE, Sutherland (now closed)
SCORE: 36/42
The nursing home failed in six of the 42 standards laid out for consumer care, including in personal care and clinical care.
In a previous non-compliance notice, the nursing home had failed 13 of the standards.
An earlier report from 2021 found that one consumer has lost significant weight.
“Documentation reviewed did not indicate consistent monitoring of food intake, and there has not been recent ongoing consultation with a medical officer in relation to the consumer’s weight and associated management strategies,” the report said.
“The team identified a dietitian review has not occurred but noted the consumer’s recommended weight range was changed as the consumer lost further weight.
“The team identified one other consumer that had lost weight, and it was noted their nutrition and hydration plans were not updated, there was no evidence of a referral to a dietitian, and there was no evidence of the kitchen or staff following advice for weight management from a medical officer.”
The nursing home was contacted for comment and did not respond by deadline.
GYMEA BAY AGED CARE, Gymea Bay
SCORE: 39/42
Gymea Bay Aged Care was notified it would need to appoint an adviser to help it comply with its responsibilities after the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission identified that there was an immediate and severe risk to the safety and care of residents.
The assessment team reviewed a sample of residents who were experiencing weight loss at the service.
“One consumer has lost significant weight and documentation reviewed did not indicate consistent monitoring of food intake, and there has not been recent ongoing consultation with a medical officer in relation to the consumer’s weight and associated management strategies,” the report said.
“The team identified a dietitian review has not occurred but noted the consumer’s recommended weight range was changed as the consumer lost further weight.
“The team identified one other consumer that had lost weight, and it was noted their nutrition and hydration plans were not updated, there was no evidence of a referral to a dietitian, and there was no evidence of the kitchen or staff following advice for weight management from a medical officer.”
The nursing home was contacted for comment and did not respond by deadline.
LEE HOSTEL, Blayney
SCORE: 40/42
A report from the commission found that Lee Hostel had failed to minimise infection-related risks and the workforce was not enabled for the delivery and management of safe and quality care and services.
The nursing home was contacted for comment and did not respond by deadline.
RON MIDDLETON VC GARDENS, North Richmond
SCORE: 40/42
A report from the commission found that Ron Middleton VC Gardens had failed to minimise infection-related risks and the workforce was not enabled for the delivery and management of safe and quality care and services.
According to staff at Ron Middleton VC Gardens, actions requested have been completed ahead of the notice, which ends on May 26.
They said Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District had made some recommendations on how to improve infection control at the facility, with all recommendations immediately actioned.
At no stage prior to the recommendation had Ron Middleton VC Gardens been sanctioned, they stated.
The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission asked RSL LifeCare to appoint an advisor to support the home in maintaining high standards of infection control and to make additional improvements.
RSL LifeCare immediately agreed and implemented the required actions, with an infectious control advisor stationed at the home.
SCORE: 41/42
A Bupa spokeswoman said in January they were notified of the commission’s decision to impose a sanction primarily due to the handling of a Covid outbreak in the home.
“Dealing with the pandemic over the past two years has created extraordinary difficulty and worry for our residents, their families, and our employees,” the spokeswoman said.
“The health and safety of our residents and employees is our highest priority and we followed Department of Health and local public health unit advice and guidelines as soon as the first case was identified, including our team members wearing full PPE (gowns, gloves, masks and face shields) and closing the home to all visitors.
“In response to the commission’s concerns, we have undertaken an extensive training program for all levels of the workforce on infection prevention and outbreak procedures and regularly monitor our infection control procedures.”
The spokeswoman said they continued to liaise directly with the health department and public health unit and were following their advice in relation to the management of exposure.
“We have also installed 20 HEPA filters to filter air within the home’s residential communities and have completed multiple deep cleans,” she said.
“We have regular and ongoing communication with our residents and families to keep them updated.”
FITZGERALD MEMORIAL AGED CARE FACILITY, Windsor
SCORE: 41/42
Fitzgerald Aged Care was advised on Christmas Day that one resident, having attended a family funeral earlier that week, sat with a family member who had subsequently tested positive for Covid-19.
“On receiving this advice, the facility commenced its Covid-19 management response,” the statement said.
“The resident was isolated in her room, additional infection control procedures (related to the possibility of an outbreak) were put in place and all staff were advised immediately of the situation.
“The resident had a PCR test. The facility was advised late on the afternoon of 26 December (Boxing Day) that the result was positive. An outbreak was declared and we commenced the implementation of the facility‘s Covid-19 outbreak management plan.”
A multi-agency outbreak management team was established comprising Commonwealth Health Department officers, a representative of the Aged Care Quality and Standards Commission and Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District public health unit staff.
The first meeting was conducted on Boxing Day, less than two hours from the notification of the positive PCR test.
“All residents were PCR tested, however, given the time of the year and the enormous pressure on testing laboratories there were significant and ongoing delays in receiving the results of these and subsequent PCR tests. Two additional residents who were known to sit with the original resident who had tested positive, also tested positive.”
Aside from the three positive test results arising from the initial external activity of one of the residents, no other resident tested positive throughout the duration of the lockdown for the outbreak.
“Indeed, the outbreak was declared over quite quickly following the full isolation period of the original positive cases,” the statement said.
“We believe that this is indicative of very good infection control procedures and the exceptional care and commitment to looking after our residents from the staff and Board.
“The families of residents were very happy with the way the outbreak was managed.”
NEED FOR REFORM
One advocacy group has labelled low wages and staffing levels as two of the key causes behind the “aged care crisis”.
Aged Care Reform Now is a grouped formed by people who have first-hand experiences with aged care services, with some having lost their loved ones due to neglect.
Member Amina Schipp said the main organisers met through a support group and decided they wanted to take political action to tackle the issue.
“We want to make sure that the aged care issues are not put on the back burner, because this is a crisis,” she said.
“We are doing what we can to make our voices be heard because change is needed. For those of us that have lost loved ones, we don’t want them to have died in vain.”
Ms Schipp said low wages and staffing levels as two of the key causes.
“Staffing is a key cause of concern because there are not enough staff and some of them do not have the high level of training required for aged care,” she said.
“It’s hard to attract people to the industry due to the low wages as well.”
Ms Schipp’s mother, Maria Oliveri Del Castillo, was 97 years old when she entered a nursing home due to a need for high levels of care. She died after being taken to hospital with pneumonia.
Her mother was a resident at a nursing home in Western Australia, and Ms Schipp said falls went unreported, and there were issues with the administering of medicine.
Her mother died in 2019, and Ms Schipp was unable to say her goodbyes.
“I knew going into advocacy was the way for me to keep going,” she said.
“You never move on, but you have to keep going. We want to see the 1997 aged care act abolished with a new one that focuses on human rights.”
PANDEMIC CRISIS
A survey of more than 2000 NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association aged care members revealed 75 per cent were contemplating leaving the sector in the next year unless urgent aged care reforms occurred.
NSWNMA General Secretary, Brett Holmes, said unsafe workloads and low wages were the key reasons for wanting to leave, and reiterated calls for legislated staffing ratios and real wage increases for nurses, assistants in nursing and other care workers.
“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,” he said.
More than 80 per cent of respondents indicated they were short staffed on their last shift before taking the survey, while 78 per cent said staffing was not safe and had impacted their ability to provide adequate care to residents.
“Many of our aged care members agreed the impact of short staffing meant residents were forced to wait long periods when seeking assistance or help and there was not enough time to properly feed or shower residents,” Mr Holmes said.
“Forty-nine per cent indicated injuries or falls had occurred due to short staffing, while 44 per cent said it caused late or missed medications.”
During the ongoing pandemic, 70 per cent stated their aged care facility had experienced a Covid-19 outbreak, and 93 per cent said their workplace had not been allocated additional federal government support from Australian Defence Force personnel.
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