Rest homes cleared
Two Wellington rest homes accused of negligence and mistreatment of an elderly resident have been cleared.
The Health and Disability Commission (HDC), led by deputy commissioner Rose Wall, ruled that Churtonleigh Lifecare and Millvale House in Miramar had ‘‘endeavoured to provide appropriate care’’ to Vincent Fernando before his death. His daughter, Dayani Navaratnam, contacted the commission earlier this year about the ‘‘sub-standard care’’ she believed Fernando had received at the two facilities.
Fernando died in 2017 from complications related to pneumonia, which Navaratnam believed could have been prevented had Millvale House been more proactive in getting him help and notifying his family. While she understood nothing could bring her father back, her motivation for filing a complaint came from a desire to help others facing similar situations.
‘‘I [didn’t] want any other parents to go through what my parents have gone through.’’
In a letter supplied to Navaratnam, Wall said she was satisfied that both facilities had fulfilled their duties in what had been a ‘‘difficult situation’’.
While no further action was deemed appropriate, she commended Navaratnam for taking the time to articulate her concerns and advocate for her late father.
‘‘[The] experience provides a timely reminder about the importance of vigilance and robust monitoring in aged care facilities and dementia units.’’
Churtonleigh Lifecare, which now operates as Ultimate Care Churtonleigh, had previously received an internal complaint from Navaratnam about two incidents related to her father’s care – one pertained to an incident where his penis was allegedly twisted painfully and another that his possessions were mistreated. An investigation was undertaken by Ultimate Care Group which dismissed the twisting incident, however, fault was admitted in regards to Fernando’s possessions being thrown into black plastic bags and left in a corridor.
The HDC, which looked into both incidents, agreed with the findings of the internal investigation. Navaratnam was surprised she was not interviewed by the HDC.
A separate complaint about Churtonleigh Lifecare’s treatment of Navaratnam’s mother, Agnes Fernando, is still being considered by the commission.