‘It’s my worst nightmare’: daughter tells of dad trapped in Covid hell at Jeta Gardens nursing home

A nursing home at the centre of the state’s deadliest Covid-19 outbreak has appointed an adviser after reports it was struggling to keep the virus under control.

A nursing home at the centre of the state’s deadliest Covid-19 outbreak has appointed an adviser after reports it was struggling to keep the virus under control with families claiming they were terrified of more deaths.

Horror stories from behind the scenes have emerged about Jeta Gardens Aged Care facility at Bethania in Logan, where 15 people have died from Covid-19 and more than 100 residents and 82 staff have contracted the virus.

The federal Health Department moved to take control of the situation late on Friday, sending clinical first responders, extra nurses and personal care workers to support staff and care for residents.

The move coincided with claims that four more people were on death’s door and the release of gruesome photos showing bags of clinical Covid-19 waste dumped outside the back of the centre, south of Brisbane.

The waste was left in the heat for days before staff called for it to be collected.

Bags of Covid-19 waste out the back of the Jeta Gardens aged care facility which is Queensland's deadliest nursing home.

Police have been onsite regularly for the past month investigating multiple claims, including allegations ill residents had tried to commit suicide.

The home went into lockdown on New Year’s Eve after a number of residents contracted the virus including a 105-year-old man, who died within days of getting sick.

Concerned families were told of the grave situation during an online meeting this week, a month after the first outbreak.

Fears of more deaths were raised with management, who told families they would not be allowed to visit or take their loved ones out while the facility was in lockdown.

Gold Coast woman Virginia Taylor broke down as she contemplated the prospect of never seeing her 85-year-old dad alive again.

Virginia Taylor, daughter of 85-year-old Arthur Adcock, who contracted Covid-19 weeks after moving into Jeta Gardens at Bethania where 10 people have died from the virus. He is now locked down in isolation and his family barred from visiting.

Mrs Taylor said her father, Arthur Adcock, contracted the deadly virus in January, less than a month after moving into the home.

“I am as mad as hell because the communication is poor, the phones ring out, I can’t speak with dad and I don’t know if he has enough incontinence pads,” she said.

“He’s got dementia and has been in isolation for a month and is disoriented thinking we have abandoned him because he has not been allowed to have family visitors.

“The situation has been poorly handled as his positive Covid test results were sent to my father’s carer in Gatton and the centre was not notified for days.

“He tested positive again on February 2 and there seems to be no end in sight for the centre to get rid of the virus. I fear more will die.”

Jeta Gardens resident Arthur Adcock, 85, with his family. He contracted Covid-19 weeks after moving into the nursing home, which is now at the centre of Queensland's deadliest aged care Covid-19 outbreak after 10 people died.

Mrs Taylor said she had been unable to get her dad moved into a hospital and wanted the federal government to patrol Covid-19 testing for staff before they entered the centre.

The situation at the home had deteriorated after the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission issued Jeta Gardens with a noncompliance order in October, finding it needed “significant improvements” during an assessment in August.

In a statement issued late on Friday night, Jeta Gardens CEO Wesley Carter said many aged care facilities across the state had been impacted by Covid.

“We at Jeta Gardens are no exception,” Mr Carter said.

“We understand this is a very difficult time, and our heartfelt thoughts are with residents and families across Australia who have suffered a loss due to Covid.

“At Jeta Gardens we continuously work to improve our systems, including since August last year to strengthen our COVID-19 management plan.

As part of that work, we engaged a specialist adviser to assist us to take every opportunity to make improvements and maintain the best possible care and support to all our residents, families, and our staff during the Covid crisis.

“Our staff — like many aged care staff across the country — are working extremely hard, but unfortunately, over the past few months we have had 82 staff test positive to Covid. “Thankfully, nearly all staff who tested positive have recovered and are back at work.

“We highly commend our dedicated staff who have bravely and selflessly shouldered the load, often working double shifts, working on days off, and going above and beyond to ensure our residents receive excellent care and essential daily services.”

An excerpt from the federal government's Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission report into Jeta Gardens was tabled in November.

A former staff member, who could not be named, said she was not surprised there had been 17 deaths after more than 75 per cent of staff resigned when new management took over in July 2020.

She said seven residents died on Friday with another four taken to hospital amid possible plans to evacuate the home over the weekend.

She said visitors were shocked when management were seen selling rapid antigen tests on the Jeta Garden’s grounds at $10 for family members but free for staff.

She said calls for help to Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services Senator Richard Colbeck’s office since April had not been returned.

“Residents are desperate and some have even tried to take their own lives because of the conditions,” she said.

“Phone lines into the home were cut on Thursday so nobody could contact residents and PCR tests have gone missing.

“I have been fighting with management since April last year and nothing has been done.”

On Friday, Senator Colbeck’s electorate office said he had been informed of the claims and was working closely with federal MP Bert van Manen, whose electorate covers Bethania.

Labor candidate for the area Rowan Holzberger said part of the problem at the centre was the failed booster rollout with some residents only getting their boosters this week.

“Now we have a full-blown crisis right here in our community,” Mr Holzberger said.

“We have aged care residents who are confused, locked in their rooms, unable to see their loved ones.

“We have loved ones who are frantic, desperate for answers, and terrified their mum or dad is going to die.”

Originally published as ‘It’s my worst nightmare’: daughter tells of dad trapped in Covid hell at Jeta Gardens nursing home