On October 3rd, the Department of Health and Ageing placed Glenwood Gardens – a nursing home in the NSW New England Highlands – under sanction. (Glenwood Gardens is a 51-place aged care service – with 34 high care residents - located in Glen Innes, NSW.)
It is the first sanction for non-compliance with accreditation standards in a NSW nursing home in 18 months. The sanctions expire on April 2, 2009.
Late on the evening of 2 October 2008, the Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency advised the Department of Health and Ageing that it had identified serious risks to residents including:
- Pain management practices do not ensure that residents are free from pain;
- Inadequate nutrition and hydration;
- Inadequate skin care;
- Inappropriate administration of medication without the medical officers orders, and failing to record the medication given;
- Inadequate monitoring of care and referrals to health professionals; and
- Staff failing to recognise the decline in residents’ health, and failing to respond properly.
The Australian Government also understands that on August 5, there was a possible gastroenteritis outbreak at the nursing home. Since then, the Accreditation Agency and Department of Health and Ageing have been monitoring the facility.
As part of its response, the Australian Government has introduced a range of tough measures including:
- Accreditation Agency assessors will be on-site daily until the serious risk is mitigated;
- Commonwealth Nursing Officers will be present at the home over this weekend;
- Appointment of specialist Nurse Adviser for six months
- Requiring staff training in a range of clinical care; and
- No Commonwealth funding for any new residents for six months.
“These tough measures are about protecting frail and aged Australians and we make no apologies for swift action,” Minister for Ageing, Mrs Justine Elliot said.
Currently, there are 12 nursing homes under sanction out of a total of nearly 3,000 aged care homes around Australia.