1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:03,279 Speaker 1: And joining me live in the studio is Sue Shira, 2 00:00:03,440 --> 00:00:05,840 Speaker 1: the CEO of the Council of the Aging here in 3 00:00:05,840 --> 00:00:08,080 Speaker 1: the Northern Territory. Good morning to you, Sue. 4 00:00:07,800 --> 00:00:10,880 Speaker 2: Good morning Katie. I wish I was here under better circumstances. 5 00:00:10,920 --> 00:00:13,800 Speaker 1: Really well, yeah, so we are going to talk. We're 6 00:00:13,840 --> 00:00:17,079 Speaker 1: going to talk about obviously the findings of an order 7 00:00:17,160 --> 00:00:19,800 Speaker 1: which have been released into an age care facility here 8 00:00:19,800 --> 00:00:21,919 Speaker 1: in Darwinin. Before I get to that, can I just 9 00:00:22,000 --> 00:00:24,000 Speaker 1: ask you very quickly have you had much of an 10 00:00:24,000 --> 00:00:26,119 Speaker 1: opportunity to hear what the Chief Minister has said this 11 00:00:26,200 --> 00:00:30,680 Speaker 1: morning in relation to our borders, the testing regime and 12 00:00:30,720 --> 00:00:32,880 Speaker 1: how it's all going to work when it comes to COVID. 13 00:00:33,040 --> 00:00:36,000 Speaker 2: I have, and I think it's a really good start. 14 00:00:36,440 --> 00:00:39,199 Speaker 2: I think it's probably maybe a little bit over the 15 00:00:39,240 --> 00:00:42,880 Speaker 2: top with the testing. But then again, talking to people 16 00:00:42,920 --> 00:00:47,720 Speaker 2: this morning, and because we have an ext registered nurse 17 00:00:47,720 --> 00:00:51,519 Speaker 2: as our age care navigator and the particular networks he 18 00:00:51,680 --> 00:00:54,280 Speaker 2: has and people in the health system and the borders 19 00:00:54,360 --> 00:00:57,200 Speaker 2: open are very worried. The people at the front line 20 00:00:57,440 --> 00:01:00,720 Speaker 2: are worried. So I think, you know, obviously this might 21 00:01:00,760 --> 00:01:03,480 Speaker 2: appease them a little bit, but we forget that the 22 00:01:03,480 --> 00:01:05,640 Speaker 2: people who are going to look after the people with 23 00:01:05,840 --> 00:01:07,760 Speaker 2: COVID are they're very worried. 24 00:01:07,959 --> 00:01:10,320 Speaker 1: Well, that's one of the big concerns and has always been, 25 00:01:10,480 --> 00:01:12,520 Speaker 1: is whether our health system is going to be able 26 00:01:12,560 --> 00:01:16,600 Speaker 1: to to withstand COVID being in the community. Hopefully, once 27 00:01:16,640 --> 00:01:19,920 Speaker 1: we reach those high vaccination rates, though, the risk of 28 00:01:19,959 --> 00:01:22,759 Speaker 1: hospitalization will minimize to some degree. 29 00:01:22,640 --> 00:01:24,880 Speaker 2: It will exactly, but I think it's a very good start. 30 00:01:25,040 --> 00:01:29,160 Speaker 2: I'm quarantining, but which I hope to do in January 31 00:01:29,200 --> 00:01:32,400 Speaker 2: after coming back from Sydney seeing my mum yep, first 32 00:01:32,440 --> 00:01:36,080 Speaker 2: time I've seen her this year, which you'll be rather wonderful. 33 00:01:36,319 --> 00:01:38,480 Speaker 2: She'll be ninety nine, so hopefully I'll be there for 34 00:01:38,520 --> 00:01:41,000 Speaker 2: that birthday. So that sort of thing is really good. 35 00:01:41,160 --> 00:01:43,480 Speaker 2: I'm not looking forward to the Hopefully you won't have 36 00:01:43,480 --> 00:01:46,160 Speaker 2: to have seven tests by then. Yeah, well that's right. 37 00:01:46,200 --> 00:01:48,480 Speaker 1: It is an awful lot. Now, so we know that 38 00:01:48,520 --> 00:01:52,840 Speaker 1: this report has revealed significant breaches of care and quality 39 00:01:52,880 --> 00:01:56,600 Speaker 1: standards at a Darwin nursing home, including incidents of residents 40 00:01:56,680 --> 00:02:02,240 Speaker 1: being harassed and inadequate care result in a choking death. 41 00:02:02,880 --> 00:02:05,440 Speaker 1: So you must be quite mortified by some of the 42 00:02:05,480 --> 00:02:06,520 Speaker 1: findings in this report. 43 00:02:06,640 --> 00:02:11,040 Speaker 2: I'm just absolutely I'll find them abhorrent, horrific. And as 44 00:02:11,080 --> 00:02:14,200 Speaker 2: we know, a lot of all our older people have 45 00:02:14,960 --> 00:02:17,480 Speaker 2: done their dues, paid their dues, they have nurtured us, 46 00:02:18,040 --> 00:02:20,639 Speaker 2: and if we can't look after them, there's something really 47 00:02:20,720 --> 00:02:23,240 Speaker 2: really wrong with our system. But I am the one 48 00:02:23,280 --> 00:02:26,079 Speaker 2: good thing about this that it was spotted, and that's 49 00:02:26,120 --> 00:02:29,600 Speaker 2: what we lobbied for right back before the Royal Commission 50 00:02:29,639 --> 00:02:32,720 Speaker 2: even started. So it took a while for these spot orders. 51 00:02:32,720 --> 00:02:35,320 Speaker 2: You know yourself. People ring up yep and they say 52 00:02:35,360 --> 00:02:38,840 Speaker 2: I'm visiting you next week. Automatically things get fixed, and 53 00:02:38,880 --> 00:02:41,600 Speaker 2: that's what we didn't want. We heard those stories before. 54 00:02:41,919 --> 00:02:45,360 Speaker 2: So these spot checks one good thing. They were found. 55 00:02:45,360 --> 00:02:49,079 Speaker 2: But unfortunately, you know, probably a little bit too late 56 00:02:49,160 --> 00:02:51,840 Speaker 2: in one way. I mean, we have reported quite a 57 00:02:51,880 --> 00:02:58,680 Speaker 2: few providers, and we've also reported providers that obviously do 58 00:02:58,960 --> 00:03:02,960 Speaker 2: the home care residential age packages in the home, and 59 00:03:03,000 --> 00:03:05,680 Speaker 2: we'd like spot checks there as well. We'd like inspectors 60 00:03:05,680 --> 00:03:08,119 Speaker 2: to turn up to provide them. So we're coming out 61 00:03:08,120 --> 00:03:10,880 Speaker 2: with you today. That's the next step, and we've lobbied 62 00:03:10,919 --> 00:03:13,760 Speaker 2: long and hard for that, so hopefully they will listen. 63 00:03:13,800 --> 00:03:18,399 Speaker 2: But the only really peace of mind we can give 64 00:03:18,440 --> 00:03:21,400 Speaker 2: to families in there is that from now on that 65 00:03:21,480 --> 00:03:28,200 Speaker 2: particular provider will be under the highest scrutiny scrutiny and yes, yeah, 66 00:03:28,520 --> 00:03:31,440 Speaker 2: they'll be ordered and checked a lot. 67 00:03:31,639 --> 00:03:34,200 Speaker 1: And so we do know that this is all part 68 00:03:34,240 --> 00:03:37,280 Speaker 1: of a report that the federal government's Age Care Quality 69 00:03:37,280 --> 00:03:41,200 Speaker 1: and Safety Commission has found that national age care providers. 70 00:03:41,200 --> 00:03:44,680 Speaker 1: So this is actually you know, Regious Age Care that 71 00:03:44,760 --> 00:03:49,200 Speaker 1: they breached eight quality standards at their TWI facility, which 72 00:03:49,240 --> 00:03:52,000 Speaker 1: as we all know, is in Darwin's northern suburbs. So 73 00:03:52,200 --> 00:03:55,120 Speaker 1: what are some of those findings that you know that 74 00:03:55,560 --> 00:03:56,480 Speaker 1: most alarmed you. 75 00:03:56,800 --> 00:03:59,680 Speaker 2: The most alarmed me and still alarms me. I guess 76 00:04:00,320 --> 00:04:03,320 Speaker 2: is the lack of staff. You can't provide the proper 77 00:04:03,360 --> 00:04:06,360 Speaker 2: care if you haven't got the staff. And I know 78 00:04:06,520 --> 00:04:10,120 Speaker 2: you noticed I gave you something from twenty eighteen that 79 00:04:10,240 --> 00:04:14,680 Speaker 2: predicted all this already, and now you know the filal 80 00:04:14,720 --> 00:04:18,080 Speaker 2: government that they're being reactive. I don't know why. It 81 00:04:18,320 --> 00:04:21,719 Speaker 2: just beggars belief, Katie, that a lot more was done 82 00:04:21,960 --> 00:04:24,599 Speaker 2: right back then when the prediction of the shortage of 83 00:04:24,640 --> 00:04:28,240 Speaker 2: staff in that area and nursing wasn't something wasn't done 84 00:04:28,279 --> 00:04:32,840 Speaker 2: about it. So that's Unfortunately, it's not a desirable career. 85 00:04:33,839 --> 00:04:36,240 Speaker 2: I don't know why really, and you can do a 86 00:04:36,240 --> 00:04:38,400 Speaker 2: CERT three and a SARCH for as we said that 87 00:04:38,440 --> 00:04:43,400 Speaker 2: there's no career path. The renumeration is absolutely appalling for 88 00:04:43,600 --> 00:04:47,440 Speaker 2: people looking after one of our most important sectors, so 89 00:04:47,520 --> 00:04:50,120 Speaker 2: that there's a whole gamut of things that need to 90 00:04:50,120 --> 00:04:53,640 Speaker 2: be still need to be looked at. And again even 91 00:04:53,680 --> 00:04:57,680 Speaker 2: in the third three and four, dementia training is an elective, 92 00:04:57,760 --> 00:05:01,280 Speaker 2: it's not a compulsory subject. Yet you've got people in 93 00:05:01,360 --> 00:05:04,920 Speaker 2: those particular facilities looking after dementsiapations, so. 94 00:05:05,200 --> 00:05:07,839 Speaker 1: We've got to make sure that they are adequately qualified. 95 00:05:07,920 --> 00:05:10,640 Speaker 1: You've got to make sure that they're adequately to attract 96 00:05:10,680 --> 00:05:13,320 Speaker 1: them well. And I suppose this is a tough thing, 97 00:05:13,560 --> 00:05:16,360 Speaker 1: but so some of these reports, I mean it's being 98 00:05:16,400 --> 00:05:21,919 Speaker 1: widely reported, you know, festering bedsaws of an elderly resident, 99 00:05:22,920 --> 00:05:28,600 Speaker 1: another who choked on food, and grandmother's being sexually harassed. 100 00:05:28,640 --> 00:05:29,920 Speaker 1: I mean, this is mortifying. 101 00:05:30,040 --> 00:05:34,760 Speaker 2: It is mortifying. And unfortunately, again when the Royal Commission 102 00:05:34,760 --> 00:05:38,240 Speaker 2: came out they said chemical restraints can't be used. Well 103 00:05:38,240 --> 00:05:42,320 Speaker 2: in this case for that particular gentleman, maybe something like 104 00:05:42,360 --> 00:05:45,320 Speaker 2: that should have been used. You don't know the whole story, 105 00:05:45,360 --> 00:05:48,800 Speaker 2: but for the safety of other residents in that facility 106 00:05:49,360 --> 00:05:53,039 Speaker 2: and turning. My mum's an ex nurse, so people with 107 00:05:53,120 --> 00:05:56,000 Speaker 2: bedstals need to be turned on a regular basis as well. 108 00:05:56,360 --> 00:05:59,159 Speaker 2: But that requires staff or two or three staff to 109 00:05:59,240 --> 00:06:02,880 Speaker 2: turn somebody who's totally immobile. Again, it goes back to 110 00:06:02,960 --> 00:06:05,920 Speaker 2: lack of staff. Most of that goes back to lack 111 00:06:05,960 --> 00:06:09,080 Speaker 2: of staff and staff training. But those quality standards, they 112 00:06:09,080 --> 00:06:12,599 Speaker 2: were brought in in to nineteen, the new standards, so 113 00:06:13,400 --> 00:06:18,120 Speaker 2: they're not hard to adhere to. But again the staffing. 114 00:06:18,400 --> 00:06:21,120 Speaker 1: So what needs to happen immediately? Do you think there 115 00:06:21,160 --> 00:06:23,200 Speaker 1: needs to be more of these spot checks to try 116 00:06:23,200 --> 00:06:26,880 Speaker 1: and avoid you know, homes being able to age care 117 00:06:26,920 --> 00:06:29,960 Speaker 1: facilities being able to sort of be prepared for checks. 118 00:06:30,000 --> 00:06:33,000 Speaker 2: They have to be really an under scrutiny to me 119 00:06:33,240 --> 00:06:35,760 Speaker 2: all the time. So those spot checks should be done 120 00:06:36,040 --> 00:06:39,440 Speaker 2: very on a regular basis. And also not just in 121 00:06:39,480 --> 00:06:42,240 Speaker 2: the age care sector, but in the disability sector. We 122 00:06:42,320 --> 00:06:45,280 Speaker 2: have had advice that there's some providers and alice who 123 00:06:45,360 --> 00:06:48,440 Speaker 2: aren't doing the right thing in the disability sector. So 124 00:06:48,480 --> 00:06:51,080 Speaker 2: that don't report. I can't say much to the reports 125 00:06:51,080 --> 00:06:53,520 Speaker 2: come out like tie. You know, I don't like to 126 00:06:53,600 --> 00:06:56,440 Speaker 2: name and shame really in one way, that's up to 127 00:06:56,480 --> 00:07:00,880 Speaker 2: the age care people to do that. But it's unfortunately 128 00:07:00,960 --> 00:07:04,520 Speaker 2: it's the industry that is grown. And we knew that. 129 00:07:04,560 --> 00:07:06,719 Speaker 2: We knew that the over sixty five we have the 130 00:07:06,839 --> 00:07:10,240 Speaker 2: highest rate of over sixty five people growing in the 131 00:07:10,280 --> 00:07:14,520 Speaker 2: northern churches. So again, where was the proactive approach for 132 00:07:14,600 --> 00:07:18,119 Speaker 2: all these people from the federal government for these packages? Again, 133 00:07:18,200 --> 00:07:20,160 Speaker 2: so they can stay at home. They shouldn't be in 134 00:07:20,240 --> 00:07:22,240 Speaker 2: rolled down in hospital. They shouldn't even lot of them 135 00:07:22,240 --> 00:07:24,640 Speaker 2: shouldn't have been in age care facility. They should be 136 00:07:24,720 --> 00:07:26,160 Speaker 2: in their own homes. 137 00:07:26,720 --> 00:07:29,040 Speaker 1: So on that, we know that the Health Minister did 138 00:07:29,120 --> 00:07:32,080 Speaker 1: announce that there is going to be more age beds 139 00:07:32,120 --> 00:07:35,800 Speaker 1: coming online. My understanding of that is that it's actually 140 00:07:35,840 --> 00:07:39,800 Speaker 1: some of these beads coming back online at regions. Are 141 00:07:39,800 --> 00:07:40,840 Speaker 1: you satisfied with that? 142 00:07:41,920 --> 00:07:44,880 Speaker 2: Not completely, to be really honest, not completely, Or they'd 143 00:07:44,880 --> 00:07:47,040 Speaker 2: have to build up a lot of trust. Somebody has 144 00:07:47,040 --> 00:07:49,440 Speaker 2: said to me, oh, they have to build up the confidence. 145 00:07:49,520 --> 00:07:53,040 Speaker 2: I said, not really, it's trust. It's trust that people 146 00:07:53,560 --> 00:07:57,680 Speaker 2: will put their loved one in that home. But again, unfortunately, 147 00:07:57,720 --> 00:07:59,760 Speaker 2: there's probably not a lot of choice, and that's why 148 00:07:59,800 --> 00:08:03,800 Speaker 2: we want particular people who are issued a bit like 149 00:08:03,840 --> 00:08:07,040 Speaker 2: the NDI is they're issued with the package, they're issued 150 00:08:07,080 --> 00:08:09,920 Speaker 2: with the bed and they can pick which bed they 151 00:08:09,960 --> 00:08:12,880 Speaker 2: want to go to, which facility they want their bed in, 152 00:08:13,040 --> 00:08:15,840 Speaker 2: rather than oh there's a vacancy here, you have to 153 00:08:15,880 --> 00:08:18,280 Speaker 2: go there. That's not on. So that's another thing that 154 00:08:18,320 --> 00:08:21,120 Speaker 2: we're pushing really really hard for what should be a 155 00:08:21,200 --> 00:08:22,320 Speaker 2: consumer choice. 156 00:08:22,440 --> 00:08:24,800 Speaker 1: We are running out of time, but so is there like, 157 00:08:25,160 --> 00:08:27,560 Speaker 1: have we got an opportunity here or should there be 158 00:08:27,600 --> 00:08:30,960 Speaker 1: an opportunity for those who are able to stay at 159 00:08:30,960 --> 00:08:34,840 Speaker 1: home but do need a regular you know, regularly someone 160 00:08:34,880 --> 00:08:37,760 Speaker 1: coming to check on them. Should there be more of 161 00:08:37,800 --> 00:08:40,360 Speaker 1: that opportunity for some territories. 162 00:08:41,240 --> 00:08:44,960 Speaker 2: We are weighing as thirty thousand packages should be released 163 00:08:45,320 --> 00:08:49,800 Speaker 2: Australia wide and there's four hundred four hundred territorians waiting 164 00:08:49,800 --> 00:08:52,520 Speaker 2: for their packages. So yes, I mean that's where the 165 00:08:52,559 --> 00:08:55,400 Speaker 2: federal government should play their part. They put eight billion 166 00:08:55,480 --> 00:08:59,280 Speaker 2: into age care packages at home, but eight billion needs 167 00:08:59,400 --> 00:09:04,120 Speaker 2: every it's a shortage and it's just horrific. Again, and 168 00:09:04,160 --> 00:09:06,680 Speaker 2: this is what is creating a lot of these problems 169 00:09:06,679 --> 00:09:10,560 Speaker 2: in our hospital that they I've known people too waiting 170 00:09:10,559 --> 00:09:13,160 Speaker 2: two years for Level four package and they've ended up 171 00:09:13,160 --> 00:09:15,959 Speaker 2: in hospital. So no, there needs to be I know 172 00:09:16,240 --> 00:09:19,240 Speaker 2: they're probably very busy with COVID in camera, but life 173 00:09:19,240 --> 00:09:23,199 Speaker 2: still goes on. So let's really look at the age 174 00:09:23,240 --> 00:09:25,800 Speaker 2: care packages. It is happening Australia White, but in the 175 00:09:25,920 --> 00:09:29,240 Speaker 2: church as well, and just release the funding for the packages. 176 00:09:29,360 --> 00:09:34,880 Speaker 1: So four hundred territories right now are waiting for those packages. 177 00:09:36,040 --> 00:09:37,000 Speaker 1: It's a large number. 178 00:09:37,160 --> 00:09:40,079 Speaker 2: It's a very large number. So imagine if they get 179 00:09:40,120 --> 00:09:42,960 Speaker 2: a little bit sicker, where will they go? 180 00:09:43,920 --> 00:09:45,920 Speaker 1: Well, that's exactly right. They'll end up at the hospital. 181 00:09:46,000 --> 00:09:48,280 Speaker 1: I'll end up taking a bid and you know, and 182 00:09:48,520 --> 00:09:50,280 Speaker 1: we need to make sure that we're caring for them. 183 00:09:50,280 --> 00:09:52,120 Speaker 1: But if they're able to actually be at home and 184 00:09:52,120 --> 00:09:55,160 Speaker 1: be cared for, surely that would be an ideal scenario. 185 00:09:55,320 --> 00:09:57,440 Speaker 2: And we did a survey a while ago, again in 186 00:09:57,480 --> 00:09:59,920 Speaker 2: the church, but Australia White and everybody would like to 187 00:10:00,160 --> 00:10:05,000 Speaker 2: stay home in familiar, familiar surroundings where their family can 188 00:10:05,040 --> 00:10:07,240 Speaker 2: either look after them or visit them. But then get 189 00:10:07,280 --> 00:10:10,040 Speaker 2: obviously help with the Level one package, which they get 190 00:10:10,760 --> 00:10:14,000 Speaker 2: domestic chores done for them and then obviously go up 191 00:10:14,000 --> 00:10:16,880 Speaker 2: to level two, level three, level four which is the highest. 192 00:10:16,920 --> 00:10:20,920 Speaker 2: So it is imperative that the federal government has been 193 00:10:21,000 --> 00:10:24,880 Speaker 2: underfunded since it came into existence, so really do have 194 00:10:24,960 --> 00:10:27,880 Speaker 2: to look at funding for those packages well. 195 00:10:27,920 --> 00:10:30,480 Speaker 1: Su Shira, the CEO of Council of the Aging here 196 00:10:30,559 --> 00:10:32,800 Speaker 1: in the Northern Territory, always appreciate your time. 197 00:10:32,840 --> 00:10:35,040 Speaker 2: Thanks for coming on pleasure Katie, thanks for having me. 198 00:10:35,040 --> 00:10:35,480 Speaker 1: Thank you