Failures in pain management, skin care, mobility and clinical care were all reasons behind the sanctions put on Yaraandoo Aged Care home in November, according to the Aged Care Quality Agency.
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The Agency has published the reasons for its sanctions on Yaraandoo, saying there had been an immediate and severe risk to the health, safety and wellbeing of residents at the home.
Yaraandoo Aged Care home was sanctioned on November 9, after a surprise visit from Agency staff.
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The sanctions meant the Southern Cross Care (Tas)-owned facility in Somerset could not get any Commonwealth subsidies for new residents for six months until May 9, 2019.
Serious failings
“There were critical deficiencies at the service, contributing to serious and detrimental failings in several areas including human resources management,” the Agency said.
The home’s clinical care, pain management, skin care, mobility, dexterity and rehabilitation activities also failed to the meet the required standards.
The Agency and the federal Health Department continue to monitor the home, after an administrator and advisor were appointed in late November.
When imposing the sanctions, the Agency said it would cancel Yaraandoo’s approved provider status for six months, unless the facility hired one adviser and one administrator to help it comply with standards of care and services, and trained officers, staff and agents at its own expense.
Staff devastated
When the sanctions were announced, Southern Cross Care Tasmania CEO Richard Sadek said at the time that the staff were devastated.
“Our staff were absolutely surprised and in some cases, were devastated at this news. They are committed, long-standing employees of Yaraandoo who live in this area and have committed to providing the highest possible care to elderly citizens.”
But Health and Community Support Union assistant state secretary Robbie Moore wasn’t surprised, citing staff cuts at the facility.
“(Union) members and workers at Yaraandoo told us these cuts would jeopardise the quality of care.”
Mr Moore said the union acknowledged the industry was underfunded. “The critical issue is understaffing.”
Additional failures
Additional failures of relevance to the decision to impose sanctions were:
- Comments and complaints
- Information systems
- Specialised nursing care
- Continence management
- Behavioural management
- Emotional support
- Privacy and dignity
- Leisure interests and activities
- Choice and decision making
- Living environment.