Nursing homes are fighting a Government crackdown on abuse, complaining it will create too much paperwork to report every assault.
Aged-care provider Anglicare has warned that society must “tolerate some failure” in the care of vulnerable seniors, as regulatory approaches decrease quality of life and force carers to restrain residents to prevent injury.
Aged Care Minister Ken Wyatt says he is considering making aged-care facilities report all “serious incidents’’ – including assaults, cruelty, unexplained serious injury and neglect.
Nursing homes notified police and the federal Health Department of 2853 alleged assaults, including 348 suspected sexual assaults, against elderly residents last year.