Families are considering withdrawing their relatives from TLC Marina Aged Care home in Altona North after what they say was another unproductive meeting with management over the outsourcing of its laundry and maintenance services.
As reported by Star Weekly on July 23, it was claimed some residents were left near soiled clothing for days and without heating for weeks as a result of changes introduced in early July.
The daughter of a resident claimed her 86-year-old mother – who has dementia and is unable to feed herself – had no heating in her room for two weeks, while laundry services were being done just three times a week rather than daily.
More than 150 residents and family members met with representatives from TLC Aged Care and laundry services contractor Spotless for more than three hours on July 31.
“It was very emotional,” the daughter, who didn’t want to be named, said. “We asked all nine of TLC’s executives to attend the meeting, but only two showed up. We feel as though we [residents and families] are being treated as though we don’t matter.
“One of the residents said she had no clean clothing left, so she stood up and asked them ‘what do you want me to wear tomorrow?’ ’’
Another family member, who also didn’t want to be named, claimed the home was severely understaffed, putting residents at risk.
“If the situation gets worse [moving her to another home] is something we’ll have to consider,” she said. “The carers they have are wonderful, but they just don’t have enough.”
TLC Aged Care didn’t respond to questions last week, but operating officer Neville Watson previously said there had been some “implementation problems” as a result of the changes. He said the outsourcing would ensure “industry-monitored levels of cleanliness, efficiency and infection control”.
Another meeting between family members and TLC Aged Care management is scheduled for August 18. Spotless declined to comment.
