Elderly ‘covered in ants’

RESIDENTS of a Tasmanian nursing home have been left covered in food – and subsequently ants – an aged care worker has alleged on a new whistleblowing site.

Reports from Tasmanian nursing homes continue to flood in to the Aged Care Watch new online portal, established to expose failures in the industry.

While most are reports of understaffing, some workers have decided to outline details of neglect. A reporter from one aged-care facility in Tasmania’s South alleged she had raised concerns about a lack of care to residents but no action was taken. Five other workers from the same facility filed understaffing reports.

“Due to a lack of staff residents are left wet, covered with food and some covered with ants,” the worker said.

“Staff are run off their feet and residents are missing out on basic care.”

The organisation that runs the home said the anonymous and unsubstantiated allegation was extremely disappointing and concerning.

“Our facility has an excellent reputation for delivering a high standard of care, with consistently high levels of customer satisfaction,” a spokesperson said.

“All residents, families and staff are actively encouraged and supported to raise issues and concerns directly with us, which are always fully investigated and action taken where appropriate.

“The health, safety and wellbeing of our residents and staff is our highest priority.”

It is only six days since the Aged Care Watch portal was launched. Almost 2500 reports have come in from workers, residents and their families from across Australia.

Seventeen reports of understaffing and inadequate levels of care in Tasmania’s agedcare facilities have already been filed, including two new understaffing reports from Medea Park Nursing Home in St Helens and another from Uniting Agewell’s Queenborough

Rise facility in Sandy Bay.

The portal was developed by the United Workers Union and there have been 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 because of understaffing. 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.

Workers Union Aged Care director Carolyn Smith said aged-care workers had had enough and 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,” she said.

“Aged-care workers are telling the public about the terrible conditions they face daily.”

Reports made to Aged Care Watch are vetted then made publicly available.