Aged care staff vaccine mandate resulting in resignations at Newcastle nursing home

BY JARROD MELMETH

The boss of a Newcastle nursing home says the looming vaccination deadline for aged care workers is seeing staff resign in protest.

The federal government has made it mandatory for all aged care workers to have at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine by September 17.

CEO of Maroba Aged Care at Waratah Viv Allanson has received a number of resignations and expects to get more as a result of the mandate.

She says she is concerned about the already existing staff-shortages being exacerbated by the resignations.

"There is an issue with getting staff. Remembering we have come through the scathing royal commission where people have seen that and think all aged care is like that which means people aren't rushing along to join in. Then we are in the midst of a pandemic which has also played out in aged care on television and they're thinking is that the career move I want to make?

"We are facing staffing difficulties right now across the board. Agencies don't have people available or there are very few on the ground and there is a big pool of people needing their services.

"We also know that because we are so risk-averse across the health sector anyone with a sniffle or any sort of a cold must immediately go home, get tested and wait for the test results to come back," Ms Allanson said.

In the past, the complexities with COVID and already existing staff-shortages has resulted in 95 shifts to fill in a single fortnight.

Image: Maroba

Wallsend aged care killer set to appeal

BY RACHEL STORER

Garry Steven Davis (pictured) was found guilty of murdering two aged care residents in Wallsend. (Image: ABC) 

The man found guilty of the 2013 murder of two aged care residents from SummitCare in Wallsend is set to appeal his conviction.

Garry Steven Davis was sentenced to a maximum of 40 years behind bars, with a non-parole period of 30 years, after being found guilty of killing Gwen Fowler and Ryan Kelly, and the attempted murder of Audrey Manuel.

He is said to have injected the three residents with insulin over a two-day period.

Davis' legal team has labelled the conviction "unreasonable and not supported by the evidence," and will claim Supreme Court Justice Robert Hulme based his decision on coincidence.

The appeal date has not been set.

Aged Care break and enter

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Police have released a description of a man wanted for the attempted break and enters of an aged care centre in Kurri Kurri earlier this month.

Police are investigating a break and enter at the Lang Street facility on Saturday 10 June at about 11pm when a man broke into a 78-year-old woman's room demanding cash. The man allegedly assaulted her and stole a wallet containing cash and credit cards. She suffered bruising to her face.

A second break and enter was attempted a week later on Sunday 18 June at 11:30pm - a resident says she heard a chair move on her back verandah and reported a man was attempting to break into her room.

The man didn't gain entry and left before being seen.

Police believe the two incidences are linked.


The man is described as having dark hair and wearing shorts with two stripes down the sides and a jumper and has been seen with a dog.

Report on Aged Cared Negligence.

BY DANIELLE RIES

Families in the Hunter are welcoming a report by the Australian Law Reform Commission on the negligence of our elderly in aged care facilities.

The report is 428 pages long and it comes with 43 recommendations, to address the problem of elderly abuse within our community.

One recommendation in the report is the introduction of strategies to improve the quality of the aged care workforce. 

The law firm, Catherine Henry Lawyers is conducting cases within the Hunter into the negligence of aged care facilities to improve the standard of care.

Local solicitor Catherine Henry says this report will help create a better environment in aged care facilities.

"It's a long well waited report that's been deliberated over and considered by the Law Reform Commission over some months.

"All who care about the quality of aged care in this country speak with the one voice in that this report does represent a once in a lifetime opportunity to act, to improve the situation for our vulnerable aged community".

She also states this is an opportunity for the government to take action.

"It's interesting that the work is done by AIN's, the lowest qualified of the nursing hierarchy, is regulated by professional nursing bodies like enrolled nurses and registered nurses are.

"This is an opportunity for the government to really do something very worthwhile and serious in aged care nursing and it will absolutely have an impact and would improve the quality of care provided". 

Credit- Mental Health Carers NSW

Commissioner responds to maggots found in the mouth of an aged care patient

BY JARROD MELMETH

Following calls from Jayne Carter, the daughter of a woman who was found with maggots in her mouth at a Raymond Terrace aged care facility for an inquiry into the aged care sector, Opal's Managing Director, Gary Barnier has told the ABC that the company would welcome the inquest.

Ms Carter was told of the incident by management, the day before her mother, Shirley Carter died.

Mr Barnier also said the palliative standards at the time of the incident were not followed.

"Staff were terminated, but it was the management of the home that was terminated.

"We have now a very distressed person who feels she deserved better and we should have done better, and I completely accept that," Mr Barnier said.

In a statement by the Aged Care Complaints Commissioner, Commissioner Rae Lamb said she has challenged service providers to say more about what they do in response to complaints.

"I can’t comment on the case, but in all cases, we work with the complainant and the service to ensure whatever has happened is addressed and appropriate action is taken to fix it.

"Let people know about the actions they take to improve care and services.

"Although I can’t speak about individual complaints publicly, we do provide full information to the people involved.  Many services also give people a lot of information about action taken, but they don’t talk about it more publicly and what I am saying is that there are opportunities for services to do that without breaching people’s privacy.

"In general terms, we have a number of ways to handle complaints, ranging from working directly with the parties to get a matter resolved through to investigations. If a provider does not make the necessary changes I can direct that it does, and we can make referrals to the Department for consideration of compliance action if a provider continues to not meet its responsibilities.

"We always encourage providers to apologise as well as taking whatever action is needed to address a matter," Ms Lamb said.

Rae Lamb. Photo: Australian Ageing Agenda

Kilpatrick Court to open tomorrow

BY RACHEL STORER

Kilpatrick Court, Toronto. Image: anglicancare.com.au

Kilpatrick Court will officially open tomorrow in Toronto and is a proud achievement of Anglican Care.

The $39 million aged care home will offer state-of-the-art facilities for 147 residents, providing around the clock care and an environment focused on happiness and wellbeing.

Anglican Care CEO, Colin Osborne believes Kilpatrick Court will contribute to the ageing population of Lake Macquarie and says "facilities like this are extremely important at the current time to meet the consumer market for aged care."

"Kilpatrick Court represents a contemporary standard in the provision of accommodation for senior people in the community," he said.

Mr Osborne also says that Lake Macquarie is the "spiritual home of Anglican Care". The organisation's first facility was established in the area over 60 years ago and they continue to play an integral role in the community of Western Lake Macquarie.