news
Nurses back elder
abuse report
Staffing levels in aged care need independent
review: Law Reform Commission.
K
ey nursing bodies have supported the 43 recommendations
from the Australian Law Reform Commission’s recently
released report, Elder Abuse – A National Legal Response.
Adjunct professor Kylie Ward, chief executive of the Australian
College of Nursing, welcomed the recommendation that
the Department of Health commission an independent
evaluation of research on optimal staffing models and levels
in aged care.
“We reiterate that there must be a legislated minimum number
of RNs in residential aged care,” Ward said.
The college said it is concerned by the trend in the makeup
of the aged care workforce, which has seen a reduction in the
proportion of regulated health professionals working directly at
the bedside.
Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation acting federal
secretary Annie Butler is calling for the introduction of a skills mix
of 30 per cent RNs, 20 per cent ENs and 50 per cent AINs/PCWs as
the minimum skills mix to ensure safe staffing in aged care.
“Residents should receive an average of 4 hours and 18 minutes
of care per day – compared to the current 2.84 hours being
received,” she said.
“Clearly, there are simply not enough staff in aged care, with one
witness reporting that there was ‘one qualified nurse caring for 85
people in a nursing home on a public holiday’.
“The report’s evidence and recommendations are a wake-up
call for the government, regulators and industry stakeholders to
act on the crisis in aged care.
“One witness said ‘[we] tolerate a level of staffing and staff
mix in aged care that would close war