We have canvassed a range of operators, with varying degrees of restricted access at their homes, on their reactions to the Prime Minister’s comments on Friday and the webinar with the Aged Care Minister and the CMO.
Providers say they were disappointed by the PM’s comments which they say suggest to the wider community that residents haven’t been able to move freely around homes or speak to their families – which is not the case.
One CEO with a number of aged care homes that have had restricted access said his staff were demoralised by the comments, and feel like their hard work over the past two months has not been valued by the Government.
“Staff are confused… they think they’re doing the right thing in the current environment,” he said.
Many were also confused by the conflicting advice from the State Governments and were also cautious about the potential for being fined under the various State and Territory legislation, for example, the tighter restrictions in SA and Tasmania.
Stay home and save lives, including staff
All pointed out that the PM’s comments that each resident should have two visits a day amounted to 240 extra people coming through a 120-bed aged care home every day.
“This business of two visitors a day every day is not the AHPPC advice,” one CEO said. “The Government is that staying home saves lives and we shouldn’t be visiting elderly Australians. Why is it okay for everyone else?”
They added that the PM’s comments not only put residents at risk – they also endanger staff.
“We have staff being abused,” one operator said. “We had phone calls from families on Friday saying we are going to storm the home on the weekend to get entry. It’s actually inciting really bad behavior, it’s irresponsible.”
Providers added that the Government seems to have the idea that these measures were going to stay in place for six months.
“We were always going to ease restrictions,” another CEO said. “No one intended them to be in place without review.”
Inadequate funding to keep people safe
Smaller operators said they lacked the staff and resources to provide the extra cleaning, temperature checks, flu vaccination checks and other screening measures necessary to open their homes to the wider community.
One regional NSW stand-alone provider told us that they had restricted visitors with the exception of palliative care and end-of-life visits.
They have 80% support from families and 95% support from residents to keep their doors closed, but are operating at a loss and said that they would not have the staff, PPE or cleaning products to deal with an outbreak.
“What it boils down to is that we don’t have the funding to keep everyone to safe,” they said. “We feel very strongly that social connectedness is vitally important but we have not lost social connectedness, we’re just doing it in a different way.”
That CEO said while they respect the PM and the job he is doing, the major outbreaks that have already happened in Australian aged care homes and overseas indicate that visitor restrictions are the best way to protect residents.
“We will not be easing”
The majority said they would begin to ease their restrictions on visitors – though very carefully.
“We will not be easing to the level that the PM has indicated because that would be unsafe and inconsistent with the AHPPC advice,” one operator said.
Some said they were looking at appointment systems to schedule visits and would be looking to keep visits to direct family members only.
Another community-run operator that has been allowing visits from family members under strict controls – with temperature checks, masks, and visitors maintaining a 1.5 metre distance – says they will now put their visitors’ policy in writing in the hope that this will meet the Government’s requirements.
Most said they were nervous and concerned about the move, saying they have received many calls from families begging them to maintain restricted access.
The CEO of one major operator said they had surveyed residents and families and 90% in favour of restricted access.
They predict a wave of complaints from families who will say that the operator is putting their loved ones at risk.
“It’s a vexed issue,” they said. “You are never going to make everyone happy.”
Why the venom and criticism?
Providers say they are unaware why the Prime Minister has chosen to target the sector at a time when the healthcare sector is being applauded for similar efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
“Why does the Government continue to praise all the frontline services except for aged care?” one asked. “There is nothing but venom and criticism.”
Another said they don’t know what the Government’s agenda is, but said it is clear they do not support the sector.
Others were fearful that the Quality Commission will take a punitive approach if they do not relax their measures.
“Scott Morrison was happy to go and pick on an aged care worker in Tasmania to say ‘you haven’t told truth’. What’s to stop him from targeting aged care homes? Why would you want to put your head up?” another CEO asked.
“The sector keeps going on about being transparent, but most providers are fearful they are going to get targeted and punitive action taken. It’s a very real fear.”
One CEO from a stand-alone provider – whose own mother is in an aged care home with restricted access – also pointed to the fact that responsibility for lifting restrictions will fall on providers – rightly or wrongly.
“At the end of the day it is not the PM or the State Premier who will take responsibility. All care taken – no responsibility accepted,” he said.
“The provision of care of our older people has always been a partnership between the older person, their representative (spouse, family member), health professional, Provider (including staff & volunteers) and Government.”
“With the exception of Government, the partnership is stronger than ever.”
Not all providers will be easing their visitor restrictions however.
