Whistleblower reveals horror behind scenes at aged care home
Three residents were found dead at Epping Gardens aged care home on Monday when just four staff members turned up to work. Now a whistleblower has revealed the virus-ridden facility has left residents unfed, unshowered and some on the floor.
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Three residents were found dead at an embattled aged care facility on Monday which has been linked to more than 100 cases of COVID-19.
It comes as claims emerged staff there were threatened with the sack if they failed to turn up to work while sick.
The claims were made during a meeting on Thursday night between families of residents at Heritage Care Epping Gardens, management and government officials.
Government sources said it had emerged that about a dozen staff had been sacked in the past six weeks, plunging the centre into a staff shortage.
A whistleblower revealed there were just two workers caring for 150 residents during their shift.
The Herald Sun has been told the residents were found dead on the same day just four staff members turned up to work prompting an emergency triple-0 call from management for assistance.
“When no staff turned up, the manager had to call 000. Residents weren’t showered or fed. They were left on the floor,” one employee said.
It is not known if the deaths are coronavirus-related.
But 85 residents and 38 staff from the facility have contracted COVID-19 at the virus-ridden facility.
The crisis prompted Austin Health to step in to provide “clinical leadership” at the centre.
Multiple government departments including the federal Department of Health, the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, Australian Defence Force and the Department of Health and Human Services Victoria are also onsite.
Responding to allegations of resistance to the extra support CEO Greg Reeve said the centre could not “abrogate responsibility”.
In a statement the centre said we “would like to assure all parties that we have fully cooperated with all government departments throughout this process and continue to engage daily, providing information as requested.”
“We are working directly with the nurse adviser appointed by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission and have welcomed their support and guidance thoughout this extremely difficult time.”
The facility said high-risk residents were being transferred to hospital.
“Our staffing numbers and skill mix has continued to improve with more staff being made available to us daily,” the statement said.
Residents have complained of being left unwashed for days at the centre.
Health Workers Union secretary said some of the practices raised at the facility that deeply distressing including lax use of PPE.
“The facility appears to be short-staffed at the best of times,” Ms Asmar said.
“Understaffing is an industry wide problem. On what planet is it acceptable to have two carers looking after 150 residents. It’s totally negligent.
“Retention of aged care workers is going to be an issue in the coming weeks and months if more and more workers are isolated.
“Not just carers — but cooks, cleaners, laundry workers, leisure and lifestyle workers. Everyone has a role to play. Aged care workers are all in this together.”
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