Grieving families react with anger after Epping Gardens sends out scented candles

A nursing home where 38 people died from COVID-19 sent candles to the grieving families – but the gesture backfired spectacularly.

Epping Gardens Aged Care Facility – where 38 people died from COVID-19 – sent out scented candles to those mourning the death of loved ones.

And the gesture has been met with fury, with grieving families calling it “a slap in the face” and returning the candles, along with angry letters, back to the home in Melbourne’s northern suburbs.

“What I’m looking for is an apology and an understanding that the home made a mistake and need to fix it. Sending candles out to us is neither an apology nor an understanding,” Luciano Cinel told NCA NewsWire.

His mother Carla died at the facility on July 25 after only residing in the home for eight months.

Carla Cinel was remembered as a strong, caring and lively person who loved life.

The scented candle sent to the Cinel family by Epping Gardens.

Mr Cinel said he offered to take his 74-year-old mother out of Epping Gardens just before the second COVID-19 wave intensified across Victoria, but she could not leave her fellow residents behind.

“She said ‘let’s stay and see if we can make a difference for the people who don’t have a voice’,” he said.

She died a fortnight later.

“My mum was a strong, caring and lively person with a great sense of humour who loved life and wanted so much more, but that was taken away from her,” Mr Cinel said.

“To get this candle in a box on my doorstep is like a slap in the face – that candle should have been an apology.”

Luciano Cinel sent an angry letter to Epping Gardens, along with the candle, criticising the gesture.

Epping Gardens recorded 220 COVID-19 cases across 103 residents and 87 staff.

Personal injury firm Carbone Lawyers brought a class action against Epping Gardens in August, alleging the home breached its duty of care by allowing staff to not wear virus protective equipment and move freely throughout the facility.

A statement of claim filed in Victoria‘s Supreme Court flagged staff from other aged care homes were allowed into Epping Gardens without self-isolating.

It also said a baby shower and birthday party were allowed in mid-July at the peak of Victoria’s second wave of coronavirus.

Managing partner Tony Carbone said he had been contacted by the majority of those grieving who “felt sick” after receiving the scented candles, along with a prayer and a picture of the deceased.

“They’re all that angry I can‘t even tell you,” he said.

“At least 90 per cent of them have sent the candles back to Epping Gardens, and the other 10 per cent are that much in shock they don’t even know what to do with it.

“The general consensus among families was that they would have preferred a phone call instead of this ridiculous gesture.”

Lawyer Tony Carbone has brought a class action against Epping Gardens alleging they breached their duty of care. Picture: LinkedIn

But Epping Gardens told NCA NewsWire the home had received “many calls of appreciation thanking staff for the simple but genuine heartfelt gesture”.

While one returned candle was received by the home on Wednesday, management maintained it was not the facility’s intention to offend and apologised.

“The candles are from the staff who cared for the residents and spent each and every day with them,” general manager Alistair Cooray said.

“Each candle had a photo of the resident if an appropriate one was available, and the verse was translated into the language that the resident spoke where possible (mainly Greek or Italian).

“It was a gesture from the staff of Epping Gardens. All candles were hand delivered by staff wherever possible.”

When questioned if Heritage Care, which owns Epping Gardens, phoned the families to offer condolences or explain what led to the deaths of their loved ones, Mr Cooray said they were all contacted.

“Heritage Care has contacted all resident family members to offer condolences immediately after being advised of the passing of their loved ones. Medical explanations were advised by a medical team,” he said.

The class action against Epping Gardens is due in court on December 17.

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Originally published as Grieving families react with anger after Epping Gardens sends out scented candles