Nursing home faces sanction

By Monique Ebrington
A REVIEW that found residents at the Yarra Valley Nursing Home in Yarra Junction were at “serious risk” has resulted in the Federal Government sanctioning the home.
The government cited problems with inadequate nutrition, privacy and clinical care that resulted in the removal of government subsidies for six months.
The home’s general manager, Athol Hawke, said he was disappointed when he was notified of the sanction last Thursday (26 March).
Mr Hawke said it was one of the Yarra Valley businesses severely affected by the Black Saturday bushfires.
Numerous evacuations, including a mass evacuation of 74 residents after official warnings of extreme weather, helped cause setbacks to the aged-care facility, he said.
“I do not seek to make excuses but I believe these extraordinary circumstances have contributed to the non-compliances in areas such as record keeping and management systems that have now been identified by the agency,” Mr Hawke said.
Chum Creek resident Peder Holton’s mother Barbara suffered from dementia and stayed at the home before she passed away in February this year.
Mr Holton said he thought his mother was treated well at the home, but he had noticed a difference in care with new ownership.
Yarra Valley Nursing home was sold 18 months ago and changed from being a family-owned business to new owners 18 months ago.
Mr Holton said he noticed a bureaucratic influence after the new owners, Yarra Valley Aged Services, took over but he didn’t think that the care had been compromised.
“At no stage did I feel that mum was in danger. It had a great reputation. Within the last year things had slipped, but they were working on it,” he said.
Mr Holton said that the problem of food portions had been addressed last year and had improved this year.
He also said that it was plausible for the bushfires to have had an adverse affect on the home.
“I’m not surprised that the bushfires put a lot of stress on them. I think that would definitely have a part to play in that (the sanctioning),” he said.
Mr Holton said relatives of the home’s residents should check out the quality of care themselves.
“Spend more time with your relative who is there,” he said. “You’re the one who can judge the quality of care, you’re the one who can see how good the facilities are.”