Photos emerge of “wretched” conditions at Fairway Rise aged care home
Shocking photographs have emerged of the “wretched” living conditions at the Fairway Rise aged care home in Lindisfarne. SEE THE PHOTOS >>
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Photographs have emerged of the “wretched” living conditions at the Fairway Rise aged care home in Lindisfarne.
Pictures taken by Yvonne Murfet show her 80-year-old mother’s soiled doona, blanket, and bedside table.
Ms Murfet caused an uproar last October after sharing photographs of food served to her mother, which prompted other residents to submit their own photos.
She has since met with the CEO of parent company Southern Cross Care Robyn Boyd, who promised to improve her mother’s level of care.
However, Ms Murfet says she sees no improvement in her mother’s conditions, and has got into the habit of cleaning her room and bathroom herself.
“I continue to highlight my concerns with management and I continue to leave in tears - no-one in an aged care environment deserves to live like this,” Ms Murfet said.
“Our elderly are suffering and not receiving the care and services that they are paying for and in the meantime, I see other family members, like me, leave Fairway Rise in tears.”
Another Fairway Rise resident’s daughter, who asked to remain anonymous, said she was horrified by her 89-year-old father’s living conditions.
She said the conditions have deteriorated over the years, following a high turnover of care staff and upper management.
“It’s shocking. It was beautiful when my parents both moved in, although my mum has since passed away,” she said.
“I’m a placid person, but right now I’m really, really angry.”
The company continues to work through its backlog of staff who have been underpaid due to an outdated payroll and rostering system.
CEO Robyn Boyd said their staffing levels were in line with the current mandates.
“SCC currently provides staffing levels of 200 per resident per day in line with the mandated ratios set to be introduced on October 2023,” she said.
“Resident rooms are cleaned weekly or more often as required by individual residents. The care home received an unannounced infection control visit last Sunday by the Aged care Quality and Safety Commission and received a full compliance of infection control requirements.”
The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission did a full audit of Fairway Rise late last year and will be releasing a report into their findings.
kenji.sato@news.com.au