Aged care workers report not having enough time to help residents with basic concerns like dressing wounds, and going to the toilet. According to a new report that surveyed nurses and healthcare assistants working in the sector chronic understaffing and system failures have made aged care homes unsafe.
The report - organised by the nurses union - says the aged residential care sector is in crisis. Nearly half of the nurses spoken to say that on almost every shift they don't have time to dress residents' wounds, or help those who need to go to the toilet. Rest homes are reported to be rationing toilet pads, and wound dressings are being cut in half to save money.
The report draws on in-depth interviews with 80 aged care nurses and healthcare assistants around the country. Kathryn speaks to the report's lead author Nathalie Jaques and Bridget Richards from the Nurses Organisation.
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