4 in 5 aged care workers say their facility was not prepared for Omicron crisis

Aged care workers survey

The results come as the head of aged care’s not-for-profit peak body revealed some aged care providers have as many as one-third of their workforce isolating due to either having COVID-19 or being a close contact.

It’s believed more than 500 aged care homes are currently experiencing a COVID-19 outbreak, with more than 3,200 cases, including more than 1,300 residents and 1,800 staff.

An aged care crisis

A new survey by the Health Service Union (HSU) of 1,000 aged care workers found staff were dealing with “severe understaffing” and “excessive workloads” in the latest phase of the pandemic, according to a report by SBS.

Of those surveyed by HSU, 82% said their aged care facility was unprepared for the massive wave of Omicron infections.

Survey respondents reported working 12-hour shifts, and even working up to 16 hours in a single shift.

Almost 2 in 5 aged care workers surveyed said they had isolated due to COVID exposure. 

Only 16% of those who had to isolate had access to paid isolation leave, according to the HSU survey.

Many of the workers surveyed said their aged care home did not have enough rapid antigen tests (RATs) or protective equipment (PPE).

Gerard Hayes, National President of the Health Services Union, told SBS that aged care workers were on the frontline of the pandemic with “little protection”.

He said shortages of RATs and PPE were endangering staff.

“The Morrison government comprehensively failed to plan before allowing Omicron to rip through the community,” Mr Hayes said.

“Residents in aged care facilities, who built this country, are paying the price,” he added.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has refused to accept claims the government is following a ‘let it rip’ strategy in relation to COVID-19, causing the spike in numbers.

“I’d describe it more as a pushing through,” he said.

Up to 30% of staff isolating  

Paul Sadler, CEO of Aged and Community Services Australia (ACSA), told 3AW radio that many residents have been in “isolation … for a long time now,” a situation he said was “untenable”.

“This is now becoming a really serious crisis,” he said of Omicron’s impact on aged care.

Though providers are doing “whatever they could” to manage outbreaks, the Omicron wave has “overwhelmed” their efforts, he said.

Aged care services, including residential and home care, now have between 5% and 30% of their staff rosters unfilled, Mr Sadler continued.

ACSA is calling on the National Cabinet to establish a clear national definition of close contacts that will take some pressure off the staffing problems aged care homes are facing, Mr Sadler explained.

Omicron is still “dangerous”, he said, but added, “we do need some new settings that deal with the realities of the Omicron spread.”

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Are Some Aged Care Workers Too Scared To Speak To The Royal Commission?

When the Aged Care Royal Commission was announced in September by Prime Minister Scott Morrison, the overwhelming reaction by our audience was that it was about time. Judging by the amount of correspondence that we receive on these issues, it was expected that when The Royal Commission into Aged Care asked the public to share... Read More

Early intervention vital to prevent severe acute pancreatitis

A new study has called for quicker diagnosis and treatment of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) for older people as mortality rates among the demographic rank higher than all others. Read More

$5 billion for the aged care sector – but is it enough?

  Older Australians have been significant beneficiaries of the 2018 Federal budget. But will the additional funding be enough? We take a look at what the industry is saying. Key aged care measures in the 2018 Federal Budget $1.6 billion for 14,000 new high level home care packages to provide some relief for the 105,000-strong waiting... Read More
Advertisement