Spike in virus deaths expected as existing aged care fatalities reclassified and added to tally
Victoria's coronavirus death toll is set to worsen as fatalities from the past few weeks are added to the state’s tally. But why are these deaths only being reported now?
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More than 40 aged care fatalities will be added to Victoria’s soaring death toll in coming days, as state and federal authorities work to reconcile data.
The Herald Sun understands dozens of aged care deaths not previously recorded as COVID cases will be added to the toll which reached 447 on Thursday.
Victorian Deputy Chief Health Officer Allen Cheng said reconciling the number of death s was a long process between providers, state and national health units and the death registry.
“It doesn’t change the fact that these people have passed and obviously, that’s a very important process to get accurate numbers,” he said.
It comes after a further 33 deaths from the last month were reported on Monday.
The Herald Sun can also reveal the sector watchdog has received more than 1600 complaints about the handling of coronavirus in aged care homes since March.
Shocking figures show almost 5000 complaints were made nationally about nursing homes in that time.
Victorian facilities were the most complained about, with 639 coronavirus problems raised with the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission.
More than 200 of those related to visitation issues as homes clamped down on loved ones being able to enter facilities in a bid to stop the spread of the virus.
Almost 500 complaints were made to the regulator in April, more than 350 were lodged in May, 259 in June and 302 in July.
Labor ageing spokeswoman Julie Collins called on Scott Morrison to sack Aged Care Minister Richard Colbeck for failing to deal with the “broken” system.
“Day after day we see more appalling evidence of the neglect and mistreatment of older Australians in aged care,” she said.
Watch our special Aged Care 360 TV show above.
The Senate on Thursday voted to censure Senator Colbeck for “failing to take responsibility” for problems in the aged care response and not knowing how many Australians had died in homes during the pandemic.
Three nursing homes — Epping Gardens, St Basil’s and Baptcare Wyndham Lodge — have clusters of more than 200 cases.
FAMILY LEFT HEARTBROKEN OVER LOSS OF ‘TRAILBLAZER’
A beloved grandmother has been remembered as a trailblazer who defied the odds, rising through the corporate ranks duringa time where women weren’t welcome in the workforce.
Aurrum aged care resident Constandina Pandelidis, 86, died last month in the Plenty facility just days after she contractedthe virus.
Her grieving daughter Joanna Pandelidis described her mum as a “heroine” who sacrificed everything for her family.
“She led the way, the women in the family are quite strong as a result of her leadership,” Ms Pandelidis said.
“She led by example, a true heroine, believing you are never too old and you have to adapt to situations.
“She was an absolute trailblazer.”
Mrs Pandelidis was born and raised in Egypt and migrated to Australia in the 1960s for a better life with husband Anthonyand son Lucky.
Although multilingual, an initial barrier to life in Melbourne was being unable to speak English.
This did not stop her from taking a job in the telecommunications industry to provide for her two children.
“She went from the factory floor to being the first woman and migrant to achieve a qualification on the job as a technician,” Ms Pandelidis said.
“I remember watching her studying, sometimes crying because she didn’t understand the language. But she overcame that hurdle.”
The Pandelidis family have raised concerns about the quality of their mother’s care during the final days of her life.
“Mum was distressed, she felt there were insufficient staff — they were under the pump,” Ms Pandelidis said.
“We were misled in believing they had taken appropriate precautions to tackle coronavirus. I’m not a scientist but I feel there was insufficient staff and they were not properly trained.
“We are questioning if she had received better care sooner if we could have avoided this. We are also saddened to not be ableto be with her in those final moments.
“We will remember her as a very loving, very gentle woman.”
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