Aged care ‘dirty secrets’

Workers, residents swamp new site with complaints

SEVEN reports of understaffing and inadequate levels of care in Tasmania’s aged-care facilities have been filed within hours of a new online portal being launched to record failures in the system.

Aged Care Watch – a tool developed by the United Workers Union to allow workers, residents and visitors to report instances of short-staffing and other safety incidents – was launched on Friday.

More than 2000 reports from across Australia have already been logged on the whistleblowing site, with that number expected to grow significantly as it becomes more accessible.

Reports have included claims of aged-care residents being left in distress, soiled and unattended.

Workers also are reporting being unable to complete their tasks, missing breaks and suffering injuries and abuse on the job due to understaffing. A worker at the Melaleuca Home for the Aged in Devonport reported staff were under pressure in the morning to stick to routine and complete tasks within a tight time frame.

“They often do not have the free space or leisure to interact with residents, to help engage them in social activities,” the worker said.

“Every day is just another groundhog day, set to repeat.”

The worker also said residents were left soiled for extended periods.

Reports of understaffing leading to distress for both residents and staff also have been lodged by workers from St Ann’s Homes in Hobart, Huon Eldercare in Franklin and Snug Village.

Residents and families of Rivulet Aged Care Home in South Hobart have received a letter from the Aged Care Quality Safety Commission saying it had failed to meet quality standards.

A commission spokesman said an unannounced visit to the home in August “identified an immediate and severe risk to the safety, health or wellbeing of residents”.

Southern Cross Care said it was committed to improving the areas of concern.

Workers Union Aged Care director Carolyn Smith said aged-care workers were no longer going to keep the lid on failures in the system.

“They are exposing the dirty secrets of aged care, and it’s not a pretty picture,” Ms Smith said. “Aged-care workers are telling the public about the terrible conditions they face daily as they campaign to change aged care.”

Reports made to Aged Care Watch are vetted then made publicly available on a map, giving details of the facility, and brief details of the issue.