The public broadcaster has continued its in-depth investigation into the sector with a 1,300-word piece on their website focusing on rates of malnutrition, pressure sores and other medical conditions.
Journalist Margot O’Neill says she “came across” the government manual that puts the rates of:
- pressure sores at up to 42%;
- malnutrition from 40 to 70%;
- the use of physical restraint between 12 and 49%,
- falls up to 50% a year;
- residents being prescribed more than nine medications 13 to 75%.
The story also underlines the fact the Federal Government has launched a voluntary program for aged care providers to collect this data – but just 230 (9%) of 2,677 homes are participating.
“The data is not yet at a stage it would be suitable as a basis for publicly reporting on the performance of services,” a Health Department spokesperson said.
They are clearly not done with their investigation yet.
