Inside Qld aged care: Families speak out on treatment concerns

Following the shocking story about a mother’s final months in aged care, Queensland families have spoken out about the issues plaguing the sector.

Local homelessness philanthropist Tony Hurle spoke to News Corp Australia last week, revealing the alleged treatment his mother had in her final months while living in a southern Queensland aged care home.

Mr Hurle claimed there had been gross failures at his mother Fay Hurle’s nursing home, including alleged missed medication checks and bathing times, improper medical support and a lack of communication with families.

Following the release of the story, residents took to social media to express similar stories with the sector.

Deborah

I had the same issue with my Dad, despite the age care being found negligent, nothing much can be done in Queensland with medical negligence. It’s frustrating and sad, but we must keep pushing for change.

Tracy

The neglect is terrifying, I got a sorry regarding my Dad and I even had to pay for their services. Although he was being ignored and being fed food he couldn’t swallow. I thought a facility would be best for his final time but now I know when time comes for my mum I will hire someone at home for one-on-one.’

Amber

It will stay with me forever. I am sure my mum doesn’t want us to be sad, but aged care has been awful. Our older people deserve better and we who loved them deserve not to saddened by the care they needed. Things need to be looked at and overhauled and watched by the appropriate people.

Annette

I don’t like aged care facilities … there is no love and support provided … I remember when my daughter worked in a nursing home and she was told not to show affection just do your job and move on … how disgusting and a disgrace to the elderly.

Eileen

To tell you the truth I’d rather die in the gutter than go into an aged care home. Have seen it myself with my mum.

Tricia Nagle

My Mum suffered at the hands of neglect at a terrible old age home in western Brisbane. I really should have called them out as to the state my mother was in every time I went to visit. I am trying not to suffer the same fate going forward.

Natasha

The problem is you pay peanuts, you get monkeys. Childcare, disability care and aged care, the most vulnerable in our society, it is a huge responsibility to care for this group properly. If there was better remuneration linked to high quality educational qualifications you would get people seriously devoted to their career.

Rhonda

You privatise aged care, childcare and disability care and the focus is on profit not quality care. These are essential services that should be government run. In the longer run the taxpayer would pay less as the profit in the model would be taken out and reinvested in the quality of care.

Sharryn

As an aged care worker I can tell you these places might look good when you do the tour but believe me they are understaffed and the residents don’t get cared for as they should.

Debra

‘I’m not sure what the solution is for aged care, it really is the poisoned chalice. There are unrealistic workloads on the staff, at times absenteeism during flu season, but the staff really do work very hard to make life better for the residences.

Bianca

They’ve looked at aged care, they spent multitudes of money looking at aged care. They don’t care about the findings, about the whistleblowers, or the residents. As long as money is made, everyone in the facility is just a number.

Evie

More families and staff working in these places need to be open and report to aged care quality standards commission. I’m dealing with them at the moment for our father’s unexpected death in aged care not reporting to commission. They are very approachable and investigate.

Karen

My mother is in a nursing home that provides her the best care. The staff are wonderful and the facilities are clean and welcoming. I have heard horror stories but I’m assuming there are good ones as well. we as a family are very happy with the care mum is getting.

Jenelle

Aged care – you have to make your presence as often as possible and at different times – all depends in the staff at the time. Agency staff have no personal connection! They have to know you are vigilant and mean business!

Debbie

Back in the day families looked after their aged relatives in their homes. Now we stick them in a home and often they’re forgotten about. I’ve worked in aged care and seen many older people never get visitors or taken out, although their family live up the road.