credit: MissLPS

A Melbourne Nursing Home received a stern warning this week by the Fair Work Ombudsman over what has been described as a “heartless and shabby treatment” of one of their longstanding aged-care nurses.

The Nursing Home has been placed on notice, and will be monitored closely to ensure that it stays compliant with workplace laws after an incident involving the Nurse.

Here’s the lowdown: while at work, an aged-care nurse fell and broke her hip. After seven months of recovery at home, she was basically told not to come back to work, thank you very much.

What’s intriguing and puts a new twist on this story is the age of the nurse – she is a spritely 74 years old.

More injustices came to light when Fair Work inspectors looked further into the situation. From the article at News.com.au:

“The nurse did not believe she had received her full entitlements on termination and complained to the Fair Work Ombudsman.

When a Fair Work inspector first contacted the nursing home, it initially denied that the complainant had been employed there. However, after demanding to see employment records, inspectors subsequently found the nurse had been underpaid annual leave and long-service leave entitlements and for some hours worked.

The company has now reimbursed the nurse almost $30,000.”

My question therefore, is this:

• How much of this has to do with the Nurse’s age? Would a younger worker have received the same treatment?

Additionally, how old is too old to look after ‘aged care’ patients?

From my own foray into the world of aged care several years ago, I know that some patients in Nursing Homes are actually younger then the 74 year old Nurse. Conversely, you also find 90year olds who are living quite happily on their own in the community, so I guess it depends on each individual.

Does anyone have any thoughts on this story?

credit: Bennett 4 Senate

It’s been a while since I dealt with maggots, but an experience I had this week reminded me why maggots feature so highly on the gross-o-meter. Quite a few maggot stories were submitted by readers in our recent Cringeworthy Competition also, so it appears I’m not alone in dealing with this crazy phenomenon.

The Scenario:

Elderly guy, some social issues, lives alone. Found on the floor out in a shed, unsure exactly how long he had been there. Brought into emergency by the ambulance guys, legs wrapped up in old towels.

Prior to my taking over his care, he had spent some hour+ in the shower with nursing staff trying to rid him of the incredible smells that were emanating over the entire department, with minimal success.

As I entered the bay where the man was lying, I could see some flickering movements on the floor by some of the miniature, writhing escapees – obviously they could sense what was to come & were desperate to make a break for it.

Now I’m pretty good at dealing with noxious gases and crazy hospital smells, however when I pulled back the sheets I could almost feel a gag coming on – not only did he have an ulcerated wound the size of his fist in his lower leg with tibia + tendons exposed, but inside this wound were literally hundreds of fat, writhing maggots. This wound was creating some crazy, off the chart smells that caused several people to collapse unconscious (nearly!)

Ouch!
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