AGED Care homes continue to be affected by staff shortages and COVID outbreaks, with help from members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) welcome, but not a long-term fix.
Last month, Defence Minister Richard Marles and Aged Care Minister Anika Wells issued a joint statement announcing the Commonwealth would extend ADF support for residential aged care from August 12 to September 30.
The ADF has provided clinical and non-clinical support to aged care homes hit by COVID-19 related staffing shortages since February this year.
The government said that as of July 22, there were over 1000 active outbreaks of COVID-19 in residential aged care homes across Australia.
Central Gippsland Health (CGH) chief executive Mark Dykgraaf told the Gippsland Times that the four aged care facilities they operate or manage had not used ADF personnel during the pandemic, but staff levels continued to be a challenge.
“CGH staffing levels have been maintained throughout the pandemic,” Mr Dykgraaf said.
“There continues to be significant challenges as staff need to take time off because of winter illnesses and COVID-19.
“Recruitment efforts have continued throughout the pandemic period in order to maintain staff levels.”
CGH operates two public residential aged care facilities – Wilson Lodge at the Sale Hospital Campus and McDonald Wing at Maffra Hospital.
CGH also manages Stretton Park on behalf of the Streeton Park Inc Board and Laurina Lodge on behalf of the Heyfield Hospital/Laurina Lodge Board.
Royal Freemasons chief executive John Fogarty told this paper that ADF staff were provided for the Benalla aged care facility only, not the Sale one.
“These were enrolled nurses and worked alongside staff and residents in a clinical capacity. They provided care in line with what existing nursing staff would provide when undertaking a shift,” Mr Fogarty said.
“An application for an ADF surge workforce is only available to homes in outbreak and only after we can demonstrate we have exhausted absolutely all avenues. Royal Freemasons Sale is not currently experiencing an outbreak of COVID-19 and would only expect to utilise this should an outbreak of COVID-19 expend staff resources at that time.
“If there is still a need for this support beyond September, we believe it should still be an option for aged care providers. We are not relying on ADF support and are continuing our comprehensive staff recruitment initiatives to fill vacant roles.”
In May, Royal Freemasons Sale told the Gippsland Times that three COVID-19 surge workforce staff began work at the facility on Monday, May 9. The COVID-19 surge workforce staff are from the Department of Health and are separate from the ADF surge workforce staff.
Mr Fogarty said that staffing levels continued to be an issue for Royal Freemasons, Sale.
“Prior to COVID-19, finding suitably qualified aged care staff in regional areas has been difficult; now it’s become extremely challenging,” he said.
“We are still unable to fill some shifts at times. At Royal Freemasons Sale, we have some limitations on admissions to ensure we have adequate staffing ratios to provide care.”
Mr Forgarty also highlighted what the new Minister for Aged Care should do to address staff challenges at aged care homes.
“Training incentives/subsidies for nursing and care students; drive to return to immigration or 401 visas; additional funding to support wage increases for the lowest paid workers in aged care,” Mr Forgarty said.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Richard Marles, said the ADF support teams would be restructured, with more personnel made available. Up to 250 ADF general duties personnel may be deployed for the aged care support, in addition to clinician-led teams.
“The ADF teams have provided vital relief to a large number of aged care homes affected by serious COVID-19 outbreaks,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.
Minister for Aged Care Anika Wells said that aged care providers and individual homes had a responsibility to manage staff, including surge workforce arrangements.
“When sufficient staff can’t be found during an outbreak, they will be able to ask the Department of Health and Aged Care to deploy a surge workforce, or ADF team, to support them through their immediate crisis,” Ms Wells said.
“The defence force into aged care is an extreme measure and, while it’s great news that ADF personnel will be available to residential facilities until the end of September, my priority is making sure aged care facilities have ongoing capacity to meet workforce shortages.”
