Troubling restraint use reported at Gold Coast aged home

A Royal Commission hearing has heard shocking evidence about the number of residents at the Earle Haven nursing home who were physically restrained and receiving psychotropic medication before its abrupt closure.

RESTRAINTS and psychotropic drugs were used on residents at the Earle Haven nursing home wing according to a report by government audit agencies, written just days before the facility was closed.

The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality yesterday heard that the final contact report on facility owner PeopleCare found that 71 per cent of aged care recipients were on psychotropic medication, and 50 per cent had been physically restrained.

The report was made by Aged Care and Quality and Safety Commission (ACQSC) officers on June 25, a fortnight before the centre was closed after a dispute between owner PeopleCare and care subcontractor HelpStreet.

EARLE HAVEN: 77YO GEOFFREY SWEET SLEEPS IN ARMCHAIR

Ann Wunsch from the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission speaks on Earle Haven at the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.

The hearings had earlier this week revealed HelpStreet sought over $3 million from Earle Haven owner Arthur Miller the night before the mass exodus from the facility.

HelpStreet wanted half of the money deposited within 24 hours, as compensation for the contract termination set to take place August 9.

Testimonies told of staff members who feared they would have their “heads punched in” for saving vital patient information as HelpStreet worked to remove equipment and furniture.

EARLE HAVEN: GOVERNMENT KNEW OF TROUBLE AT NURSING HOME

The front entry of the Earle Haven Retirement Village is seen on the Gold Coast, Friday, July 19, 2019. Federal authorities held a briefing with families, staff and residents after the abrupt closure of Earle Haven's high care wing last week. (AAP Image/Darren England)

Ann Wunsch, executive director of quality assessment and monitoring operations at the ACQSC, said the findings made on June 25 were “troubling”.

“I was concerned about the use of restraint in that service,” she told the hearing.

Ms Wunsch said the rate of psychotropic drug use at the facility was “very high”.

“That is at the very high end and I have seen examples where that percentage has been for services that have been predominantly for consumers with mental health or complex care needs. But that is a very high number.”

Asked if it caused her to go back over the facility’s record, Ms Wunsch said it was not in her role.

The assistant director and regional director from the ACQSC however were following up the report.

“The assessment of this matter was not concluded by the closure,” Ms Wunsch said.

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Wife of former Earle Haven resident Lorraine Cook, whose husband was removed from the home with 71 other residents on July 11 following the contract breakdown, said she is “fed up” of waiting for answers.

Because of her husband John’s forced relocation, Ms Cook now must travel via bus and then walk half an hour each day to see him.

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Ms Cook said she is waiting for some response from the politicians responsible for aged care.

“Soon there will be a delegation of people whose families were at Earle Haven sitting outside of their door until they fix something.”

Ms Cook said she was not aware of restraints or psychotropic drugs being used on residents at the PeopleCare facility.

“I went there everyday, there are no zombies there either.”

She had however made a complaint about HelpStreet to the department in May over the treatment of patients and the food.

“One department doesn’t speak to the other department, but they knew,” she said.

“This is all just garbage they are going on with, none of us were invited to the commission but they want answers.

“There is no reason why they (residents) can’t go back home.”