Aged Care Royal Commission finds sector not prepared for COVID-19 crisis

The royal commission into the impact of COVID-19 on aged care has called for a significant funding boost after 629 residents died.

Australia’s aged care sector had never experienced a challenge to its structures and resources like the one brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, a royal commission has found.

The report by Tony Pagone QC and Lynelle Briggs AO has called on the federal government to create a plan to immediately improve the sector as it continues to battle the virus, noting facilities were “insufficiently” prepared when the pandemic began.

However, they said now was not the time to lay blame for the crisis, which has claimed the lives of more than 660 residents, as there was “too much at stake” while people were still at risk.

“We are left in no doubt that people, governments and government departments have worked tirelessly to avert, contain and respond to this human tragedy,” the report stated.

Anglicare’s Newmarch House in western Sydney was the site of a deadly outbreak. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

The commission found advice from the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC), the government’s key decision-making committee for health emergencies, at the start of the pandemic did not go far enough.

“(It) is now clear that the measures implemented by the Australian Government on advice from the AHPPC were in some respects insufficient to ensure preparedness of the aged care sector,” it states.

“Confused and inconsistent messaging from providers, the Australian Government, and State and Territory Governments emerged as themes in the submissions we have received on COVID-19.

A resident of Epping Gardens Aged Care Facility, Melbourne is taken away in an ambulance on July 28, 2020. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

“All too often, providers, care recipients and their families, and health workers did not have an answer to the critical question: who is in charge? At a time of crisis, such as this pandemic, clear leadership, direction and lines of communication are essential.”

The commission has identified four areas it says the government, the body in charge of aged care in Australia, should immediately improve to better prepare staff and residents for future outbreaks of the “pernicious virus”.

“We do this now because we do not know how long the pandemic will last. Its end is impossible to predict,” the report states.

“However, aged care residents continue to suffer and, tragically, some more may die as a result of COVID-19.”

Matthew Fowler visits his father Lionel, 88, through the window of his Newmarch House room. Picture: Dylan Robinson

“It is clear to us that people receiving aged care services, their loved ones, those providing care and the aged care sector itself need immediate support and action.”

The first recommendation is the government better fund facilities to ensure there are adequate staff to allow greater number of more meaningful visits for residents.

It also suggested more funding to increase access to allied and mental health experts inside aged care facilities to improve physical and emotional wellbeing.

It also recommended the government establish a national aged care advisory body, and that accredited infection control experts be deployed to facilities across the country.

Despite noting that 74 per cent of Australians who had died from the coronavirus were aged care residents as of September 19, the report said the sector “performed well” when compared to countries like the UK and Canada.

Deteriorating mental health emerged as a key issue among residents locked down during the pandemic, which the commission found could be linked to “missing family, changed routines, concern about catching the virus or fear of being isolated in their rooms”.

Aged Care Minister Richard Colbeck says the government will act on the report immediately. Picture: Sean Davey.

Aged Care Minister Richard Colbeck told the media on Thursday the government would be implementing all six recommendations made in the report, announcing an additional $28.9 million to its serious incident response scheme.

It will also pump an extra $10.8 million into enhancing the skills and leadership of nurses in aged care facilities “to ensure old Australians and senior Australians receive the best care possible”, Mr Colbeck said.

“Every single mortality and death in aged care as a result of COVID-19 is an absolute tragedy and again, we extend our condolences to all of the families who have lost loved ones through COVID-19,” he said.

Labor’s aged care spokeswoman Julie Collins. Picture: Fiona Harding

Shadow aged care minister Julie Collins said in a statement the report suggested the government had “no plan for COVID-19 in aged care”.

“The foundations of our country’s aged care system have buckled under the pressure of a deadly disease and the Morrison Government did not do enough to stop it,” she said.

“More than 660 older Australians have sadly died from COVID-19 in aged care homes. Some families and loved ones were forced to say goodbye over Facetime.”

Pat Sparrow, chief executive of Aged and Community Services Australia, welcomed the “fantastic” recommendations and urged the government to adopt them urgently.

“The interface between aged care and the health system has been broken for some time. Older people should not have health care rationed,” she said.

Catholic Health Australia boss Pat Garcia also lobbied the government to swiftly act on the recommendations.

“We know the tragic consequences delays can have on this vulnerable cohort of society, we have all seen the ghastly tally and we must do whatever we can to ensure it doesn’t happen again,” he said.

Read the full report here.