Aged care centres aim to reassure

– Callan Date
MANAGEMENT at two Casey aged care centres is moving to reassure the public that their residents are receiving quality care.
The call from Aged Care Services Australia Group (ACSAG), which operates Viewhills Manor in Endeavour Hills and Hallam Residential Care, follows the recent discovery of two East Ballarat aged care residents who weighed less than 25 kilograms.
The frail residents were living at the ACSAG operated Kirralee Aged Care facility.
The Department of Health and Ageing will look into operations at Viewhills Manor and Hallam Residential Care to make sure no problems exist.
Viewhills Manor experienced various problems under its previous operator.
The centre failed six key components during an audit conducted by The Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency in 2006.
The Heatherton Road centre has 80 beds and can cater for 36 high care occupants.
ACSAG spokesman Bill Forwood said Viewhills Manor was recently purchased by the company.
“The non-compliance mentioned was under the previous management,” he said.
“It is fully accredited for three years and has just been visited as part of the current round of inspections. Hallam is also fully accredited for three years.”
Minister for Ageing Justine Elliot said if any problems were found action would be taken.
“The first priority is the safety, health and welfare of residents,” Mrs Elliot said.
Mr Forwood said ACSAG would continue to fully cooperate with the department and the agency which handles aged care accreditation.
“We are committed to continuous improvement and will act swiftly to rectify any issues identified by the accreditation agency in any of our facilities,” Mr Forwood said.
“I would like to assure residents that staff and management are continuing to work together to provide quality care for residents.”