Read on Twitter
What's going on in Victorian #agedcare outbreaks? Thread.
Glendale #agedcare in Werribee, which has a cluster of COVID cases, has had requests to transfer infected residents to hospital DENIED.
23 residents and staff infected. #agedcarerc #auspol https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/aged-care-home-had-request-to-transfer-virus-cases-to-hospital-denied-20200716-p55cr0.html
Glendale #agedcare in Werribee, which has a cluster of COVID cases, has had requests to transfer infected residents to hospital DENIED.
23 residents and staff infected. #agedcarerc #auspol https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/aged-care-home-had-request-to-transfer-virus-cases-to-hospital-denied-20200716-p55cr0.html
DHHS has said that "decisions [to transfer to hospital] are made on case-by-case," flying in the face of requests from provider groups, who have asked for ALL infected residents to receive hospital transfers as a matter of policy. #agedcarerc #auspol
Provider groups are requesting hospital transfers because many #agedcare facilities aren't equipped OR STAFFED for the degree of infection control required to protect uninfected residents. Many facilities are chronically understaffed, with casualised workforces. #agedcarerc
Only AFTER 31 people, including 14 residents, tested positive for COVID at Menarock Life #agedcare in Essendon were COVID-positive residents transferred to hospital. This facility is currently Victoria's largest aged care cluster. https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/coronavirus-nursing-homes-feel-the-pain-of-fresh-outbreak/news-story/2096a5354b61ac2eb29eb784b08debe0
21 cases at Estia Ardeer. Estia initially claimed it had "no cases" on July 13, before announcing 13 infections the same day. 2 of its staff working across 3 of its homes were infected. Unclear whether infected residents have been transferred. #agedcarerc https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/companies/estia-announces-writedown-positive-tests-by-two-staff-at-melbourne-nursing-homes/news-story/d749b14af4c1249f31d6caaa13e6e627
39 aged care homes now have COVID cases in Vic: 108 staff and residents are positive.
Vic's Deputy CHO says "each facility has its own pandemic plan." The DHHS advises that hospital transfers are still considered on a case by case basis. #agedcarerc https://www.9news.com.au/national/victoria-aged-care-outbreaks-a-reminder-to-all-australians-to-stay-home-deputy-cho-says/1ffd7f9b-b251-48bf-a65d-ff0347c792df
Vic's Deputy CHO says "each facility has its own pandemic plan." The DHHS advises that hospital transfers are still considered on a case by case basis. #agedcarerc https://www.9news.com.au/national/victoria-aged-care-outbreaks-a-reminder-to-all-australians-to-stay-home-deputy-cho-says/1ffd7f9b-b251-48bf-a65d-ff0347c792df
A major factor in this spread will surely transpire to be the casualised nature of the #agedcare workforce, with many workers attending numerous facilities per week.
Aged care workers are among Australia's worst-paid; average pay is $23/hr. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-07-17/coronavirus-vic-melbourne-casual-aged-care-worker-restrictions/12464302
Aged care workers are among Australia's worst-paid; average pay is $23/hr. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-07-17/coronavirus-vic-melbourne-casual-aged-care-worker-restrictions/12464302
The @anmf_federal's COVID survey reported:
- Up to 80% of staff reported no increases in care staff at their facility to prepare for an outbreak;
- 19% working in for-profit, 17% in not-for-profit and 13% in government-run facilities reported staff cuts since March #agedcarerc
- Up to 80% of staff reported no increases in care staff at their facility to prepare for an outbreak;
- 19% working in for-profit, 17% in not-for-profit and 13% in government-run facilities reported staff cuts since March #agedcarerc
@anmf_federal also reported:
- Less than 40% of staff said their facility was prepared for a COVID-19 outbreak;
- Less than 30% of staff said their facility had enough supplies of PPE
#agedcarerc #auspol
- Less than 40% of staff said their facility was prepared for a COVID-19 outbreak;
- Less than 30% of staff said their facility had enough supplies of PPE
#agedcarerc #auspol
With the inevitable curtailing of visitors to Victorian aged care facilities as they go into lockdown, providers lose a key group of workers: the volunteer carers in the form of family, friends and other outside care workers who supplement the inadequate #agedcare workforce.
Add all this to the failures in Australian aged care covered @RoyalAged: chemical and physical restraints, malnutrition, abuse, neglect, failures in basic care - and you have grounds for serious concerns about what else is sliding as facilities grapple w COVID. #agedcarerc
Infected residents should be transferred to hospital as a matter of universal policy. Uninfected residents should be evacuated and the facility deep-cleaned once COVID is present. This is what all the experts have been saying over and over again. #agedcarerc #auspol
All of the problems that have plagued Australian aged care for years - poor care outcomes, inadequate regulation, inadequate staffing mix and training, inadequate pay, casualised and precarious workforce, profit-geared facilities - are of even greater consequence now #agedcarerc
Anyway, this thread could go on forever - suffice to say:
Transfer residents to hospitals as a matter of policy.
Deep clean facilities as a matter of policy.
And a better staffed, better paid, more secure and stabilised workplace will result in better care outcomes. #agedcarerc
Transfer residents to hospitals as a matter of policy.
Deep clean facilities as a matter of policy.
And a better staffed, better paid, more secure and stabilised workplace will result in better care outcomes. #agedcarerc
And for god's sake, if you're in Melbourne, wear a mask.
The person sitting next to you in the tram or passing by you in the aisle of the grocery shop could be an aged care worker, a nurse, a cook, a cleaner in an aged care facility.
#MaskUpMelbourne #agedcarerc #auspol
The person sitting next to you in the tram or passing by you in the aisle of the grocery shop could be an aged care worker, a nurse, a cook, a cleaner in an aged care facility.
#MaskUpMelbourne #agedcarerc #auspol
One last thing. Per @theheraldsun, Menarock Life #agedcare in Essendon - now home to Vic's worst outbreak - has not been audited by @AgedCareQuality for THREE YEARS.
Yet Menarock's owners appeared @RoyalAged over elder abuse claims & staff shortages.
@gedkearney @JulieCollinsMP
Yet Menarock's owners appeared @RoyalAged over elder abuse claims & staff shortages.
@gedkearney @JulieCollinsMP
