Sex assaults, unexplained injuries, soiled beds... calls for help ignored

The litany of complaints about the care of our elderly people in this country’s nursing homes makes for harrowing reading. From numerous incidences of unexplained injuries to reports of residents regularly being left without care or concern lying in soiled beds for hours, the file demands that urgent action is taken to rectify the horrendous conditions our relatives are living in. even in death it seems, they are afforded no compassion or dignity. here are a selection of the complaints received by hiqa.

HUMILIATION

Footage of a resident seeking assistance was posted on social media while staff members laughed and joked.

A resident was asked to strip and was assisted to remove all clothes, including underwear. They were ‘confused and embarrassed but did not verbalise these feelings to the staff involved’. They photographed them naked. Asked about the incident, they said this was to ‘record all bruising and to ensure a record was made’… ‘dignity and respect was compromised’.

FIRE HAZARDS

Fire doors being wedged open ‘constantly’ Bed blocking a fire escape Residents left unattended and call bells not being responded to

CALLS FOR HELP GO UNANSWERED

Complaint reported that a resident who died had been calling on the bell for assistance for over an hour. Resident left on toilet unattended for two hours.

‘The call bell was taken away [and the resident] was left for hours in soiled clothes.’

‘The bandage is usually dirty and blood-soaked before it is changed… The call bell remains unanswered for long periods.’

‘[Resident] lying in their own waste in the bed… sheets were soaking and there was no nappy on… or one available in the room. [They] had to be admitted to hospital for three weeks due to neglect.’

Complaint relating to a resident who ‘is very quiet and would not complain’. They ‘had been wet for a while’ and there was ‘a bad smell in the room’. ‘There is a strong odour of urine and faeces in the bedroom… [The] resident is not assisted with personal hygiene. The bedroom and bathroom area is filthy and the strong odour is extremely unpleasant.’

Resident was left in a room without heating. The door was closed and the call bell was not working.

FALLS AND INJURIES

Complaints that residents are left alone and ‘as a result, suffer falls’. A resident was left unsupervised and ‘was later found on the ground some distance from the centre’. They sustained ‘serious injuries’ and the incident prompted concerns that staff ‘cannot provide appropriate care’.

Resident suffered a serious injury in a fall. ‘Despite multiple requests, the provider has not shared the incident report… nor have they taken any steps to prevent future incidents.’

Complaint about a resident falling off a wheelchair while a staff member was wheeling it. Another resident was ‘hurt by staff’, who asked the resident ‘not to complain for fear they would lose their job’.

Another complaint reported ‘severe bruising’ and ‘nobody can explain what happened’. ‘Serious injury… after sustaining third-degree burn’.

‘Severe bruising’ found on a resident, which was not reported until the bruising began to appear. It was alleged there was a threat of discharge ‘hanging over’ the resident. The complainant contended they did not ‘believe this incident would have been reported if the person had not spotted the bruises and questioned how it happened.’

Resident ‘suffered a lot of falls and the explanations do not appear to be reflective of the injuries… Little or no communication… regarding incidents.’

‘Serious falls without any review by doctor… It was discovered [resident] had a broken back and was left in the bedroom for a three-week period.’

Residents ‘suffer falls at an alarming rate and they are classified as unwitnessed’ as a result of staff shortages.

ASSAULTS BY STAFF

Report of physical abuse by a staff member. Management said the staff member had been sacked but they had not.

Witnessed a staff member physically assault someone. They continue to work there. Staff lifting residents ‘out of their chairs, holding them under their arms… [they] shout that the staff have hurt [them and] do not want to go but at 8pm each week, all [residents] are put to bed at this time’. ‘A staff member was observed physically and verbally abusing… telling them to be quiet using abusive language.’ ‘Observed a member of staff kick a patient… not the first time this has happened.’ Complaint about ‘neglect and abuse’… ‘severely dehydrated… left in dirty underwear… body was bruised due to poor manual handling by staff… staff were twisting [their] arm, staff used foul language at [them] and said they were lucky they were not twisting [blank].’

SEXUAL ASSAULTS

‘Allegations of a sexual nature. Lack of communication from provider.’ Another allegation of sexual assault. ‘No proper investigation carried out.’ ‘Staff do not adhere to infection control. Protective gloves are not worn when staff assist… and go from assisting… to working in the kitchen area or assisting at meal times.’ Resident ‘wandering along a corridor’ with a ‘filthy soiled pad on the floor beside [them]’… ‘[the] bed and floor was covered in excrement… the area was filthy.’ ‘Found excrement on the floor and bed bars.’