Carinity isn’t the only Queensland provider selling papers this week.
Local media reports have brought attention to the fact one in seven aged care homes did not meet the Australian Aged Care Quality Agency (AACQA)’s required 44 quality standards in the past 12 months.
Blue Care’s Pioneer Lodge home in Bundaberg failed 12 standards including clinical care, medication and pain management and nutrition and hydration in its latest audit in January 2018. An AACQA representative also ruled the facility had placed the health and safety of a resident at serious risk.
A Blue Care spokesman told the local paper a nurse advisor had since been brought in and clinical nursing coverage increased.
Anglicare SQ Meilene Home For The Aged in Bundaberg also failed 15 standards during its December 2017 audit, though this was revised to nine after the Not For Profit was given the opportunity to respond to the audit.
Government-run providers were not excluded either. Queensland Health’s Dr E A F McDonald Nursing Home in Oakey, 160km west of Brisbane, failed nine standards in its July 2017 audit.
This was raised to the full 44 after a November 2017 audit, but re-accreditation was only given for one year to “demonstrate that the recent improvements are sustainable”.
What will residents and their families make of these headlines?
