WE WANT ANSWERS
Earle Haven residents at breaking point as patient shares his pain
AN Earle Haven resident who has spent the past eight days sleeping in an armchair and waiting to return home is demanding answers over the debacle.
Geoffrey Sweet, 77, told the Bulletin yesterday: “Nobody gives a crumpet. We have been told nothing. Eight days later I am still here. Somewhere, somehow, somebody knows what is going on.”
Family and friends of nursing home residents slammed yesterday’s meeting called by a federal department as “a total waste of time’’ and say they are livid they were left without answers.
Former ACT chief minisster Kate Carnell will lead the Federal investigation into the fiasco.
GEOFFREY Sweet shakes his hands in frustration and sighs. “Nobody gives a crumpet,” he says.
For the past week, the 77year-old has slept in an armchair as his family searches for answers to the Earle Haven nursing home debacle.
The former cricket coach, animal care manager and courier driver was one of more than 70 retirees moved from the Nerang village last week due to a contract dispute between the owner and care provider.
For eight days Mr Sweet has sat patiently awaiting news on whether he can return home.
He has lived at Earle Haven for two-and-a-half years.
Recounting the night the crisis unfolded Mr Sweet said he was told by staff he would only be away for one day.
“All I packed was a shirt, shorts and some undies,” he said. “Everything else, all of my possessions, are still back there.
“We have been told nothing. Eight days later I am still here. Somewhere, somehow, somebody knows what is going on.”
Relocated to the Nerang Nursing Centre, Mr Sweet said he has had trouble adjusting to the new bedroom, which he shares with four other men, and bathrooms, which he shares with many more.
He previously had a room and ensuite to himself.
Mr Sweet is sleeping in an armchair to avoid the noisy shared bedroom at his emergency accommodation. He strongly stresses it is his own choice.
“It doesn’t feel like a home. This feels very, very temporary,” he said.
“It wasn’t our fault we were kicked out, we deserve to know what happened.
“How the hell did we get to this situation? I have been here for over a bloody week.”
Mr Sweet said he watched with his own eyes as furniture and medicine were taken from the Earle Haven nursing wing on July 11.
“It was all taken so the place couldn’t operate. I noticed arm chairs and a few mattresses disappeared that morning. We weren’t told what was happening until the afternoon.”
Mr Sweet said he was aware of a few problems at the People Care-run facility, which had improved “slightly” since HelpStreet was contracted.
“The meals were ordinary and acceptable just, but it was my home,” he said.
His son, Garry Sweet, who said he was not alerted to the situation until two days after his father was moved, has been calling the federal aged care authorities daily.
He attended yesterday’s meeting with the Federal Government and challenged them on the lack of transparency, information and what he believes to be mismanagement.
“There doesn’t seem to be anybody capable of making a decision,” Garry Sweet said.
“At this stage we are going to move Dad because there is an inability for anyone in charge to give any details or make any timelines.
“It is the most frustrating thing as we are unable to make plans. We don’t know if he can go back or how long we have to wait like this for.”
Garry Sweet said he was also disappointed to hear executives for the nursing care company HelpStreet had left the country.
“We know the operators have been given Commonwealth funding, funding that should be returned or given to residents who have had to relocate,” he said.
“Those involved should be here to answers questions. It is the most basic thing.”
How the hell did we get to this situation? I have been here for over a bloody week. GEOFFREY SWEET (PICTURED)