Anglicare restores service to elderly Coast couple after initially suspending it because they refused anti-vaxxers
UPDATE: An elderly Gold Coast who had their home care service suspended for stopping anti-vaxxers have received a surprise offer. THE LATEST >>>
Gold Coast
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ANGLICARE have done a backflip and restored their services to an elderly Gold Coast couple who had their home care help suspended for turning away anti-vax staff.
According to the 84-year-old former Professor, Anglicare called the couple within a few hours of the Bulletin making inquiries into the care provider’s decision to cease the couple’s service because they only wanted vaccinated workers to attend their house.
“Anglicare rang twice, firstly with an offer of a person with one jab but booked for a second and soon after with the offer of a lady with completed vaccination,” he said.
“My wife of course accepted the first with good grace and then the second with a smile.”
ELDERLY COAST COUPLE’S SERVICE AXED AFTER THEY REFUSE ANTI-VAXXERS
August 23
AN elderly Gold Coast couple say Anglicare suspended their service because they couldn’t guarantee staff who attended the vulnerable residents’ house would be vaccinated against Covid-19.
It’s alleged they also told the 84-year-old man and his 75-year-old wife their decision was “ridiculous”.
In a bid to protect themselves, the Gold Coast residents said they had started asking their community-based aged care staff if they’d been vaccinated against Covid-19 and turning away those who weren’t.
“Today Anglicare sent someone and at the gate when my wife asked the worker told us ‘no I’m not vaccinated and I don’t intend to’ and ‘I will resign if they make it compulsory, I don’t know what it would do to my immune system’,” said the retired professor, of the incident.
“So my wife told him he should be, wished him well but did not invite him into our house. Working in aged care this is almost, or should be, illegal. It’s insane.”
A few hours later the couple received a call from their provider saying that it could not guarantee staff attending their house would be vaccinated against Covid-19 so their service would be suspended.
“The person who called us said we were being ‘ridiculous’ in refusing help from non-vaccinated staff and that as a provider they were not allowed to ask their employees whether they’ve had the vaccine,” said the 84-year-old.
“Surely these providers are getting Commonwealth funding and so it should be mandatory for staff who visit the elderly, whether in aged care or in their own homes, to be vaccinated.
“We’re dead in the water as far as Anglicare is concerned, but we’re not going to risk having anti-vaxxers in our home.
“This has gone beyond a joke.”
The couple, who are able to live at home because they are “not too frail” said they would have to “battle on for a bit” with help around the house until other arrangements could be made.
An Anglicare spokesman said it was committed to following all public health directives and working closely with governments and the community to stop the spread of Covid-19.
“We believe vaccination is an important strategy to help minimise the harmful impacts of COVID-19 and we strongly encourage everyone, including our staff and clients, to get vaccinated as soon as possible,” he said.
“The majority of our staff have already been vaccinated, or are intending to get vaccinated as soon they can secure an appointment.
“While we are unable to comment on individual client matters, we can confirm that no services have been suspended.
“We are currently working with some clients to schedule suitable times when vaccinated workers can provide their regular services.”
From 17 September 2021, Covid-19 vaccination will be mandatory for all residential aged care workers.
ANTI-VAX CARE STAFF VISITING GOLD COAST ELDERLY
AUGUST 3
AN elderly Robina couple are screening aged-care staff at their front gate – saying they should not be working with the vulnerable – after discovering anti-vax staff refused Covid vaccines.
The 84-year-old husband said of a recent Anglicare staffer visit: “The last one we had said ‘I’m not and never will be’ vaccinated.
“We’re nice people, but we’re not going to put up with anyone again who isn’t vaccinated.
“They should not be working with vulnerable Gold Coasters.”
The couple, who are healthy enough to live at home independently, said when they discovered the person was not vaccinated they were so worried about their safety they stayed outdoors while the staffer attended to their house.
“Unvaccinated people really are the enemy of the state at the present moment and clearly no friend of the Gold Coast economy,” he said.
While it is not mandatory for community-based aged care staff to receive a Covid vaccination, Anglicare said it was “actively encouraging all of our staff” to get it.
Anglicare Southern Queensland executive director Karen Crouch said: “We have engaged directly with vaccine providers to make it as easy as possible for our staff to access the vaccine at the earliest possible opportunity, dependent on the availability of vaccine supply.
“While we are unable to disclose the vaccination status of individual workers due to privacy legislation, we can confirm the majority of our staff have been, or are intending to, get vaccinated.”
WHERE TO GET A Covid TEST ON THE GOLD COAST
But the Gold Coast couple say this isn’t good enough, and want unvaccinated staff to be kept away from vulnerable residents.
“My wife rang and asked what was going on and was told supervisors are not allowed to ask the vaccination status of staff,” she said.
“There are many retired people on the Gold Coast, why aren’t our city leaders getting angry about issues such as this.”
The retiree said his 75-year-old wife was told she was the first person to complain about unvaccinated staff and management were not able to ask staff to have the vaccination.
She later rang back and requested Anglicare only send staff to the house who have been vaccinated, but was told there were no guarantees this would happen.
“We’re lucky we don’t receive body care but what about all the others, particularly those who are more frail than we are,” he said.
“If they are not vaccinated then we’ll say ‘No thanks, we can do without your help today’.
“Unvaccinated staff should not be among the frail. Anglicare should be setting a better standard.”
Ms Crouch said Anglicare Southern Queensland was following the expert advice of public health authorities and complying with all government requirements to help contain the spread of Covid.
Originally published as Anglicare restores service to elderly Coast couple after initially suspending it because they refused anti-vaxxers
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