Not For Profit organisation Kindred Living, which announced the closure of its Annie Lockwood Court facility earlier this month, has been found non-compliant at its two other aged care homes in Whyalla, the fourth most populous town in South Australia.
As about 150 concerned residents and their families protested outside the town’s council office about the closure of Annie Lockwood Court, which was also found to be non-compliant after a scabies outbreak, by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (ACQSC), it became known that the federal watchdog had also found Kindred Living’s Yeltana Nursing Home and Copperhouse Court Hostel (pictured), both in Whyalla, non-compliant.
The ACQSC found Yeltana Nursing Home was not sufficient in personal and clinical care and organisational governance, with staff unable to identify three cases of serious weight loss in residents.
The investigation also uncovered that a resident was being subjected to suspected ongoing emotional abuse by their guardian.
“The (Commission) noted that the service did not evidence strategies put in place to protect the consumer from further potential abuse,” the report stated.
A separate investigation found Copperhouse Court Hostel did not have an effective risk management system after a resident escaped the home through an unlocked gate on four separate occasions in 2020.
Kindred Living CEO Juanita Walker told The Advertiser the issues at both homes were being “rectified”.
Whyalla Mayor Clare McLaughlin said many of the 37 residents at Annie Lockwood Court will have to find accommodation outside of the town.
