Can you believe it? It has come to light that the officials investigating the deaths of five residents in a Melbourne nursing home NEVER LEFT THE FACILITY’S OFFICE!

They checked the paperwork but didn’t talk to the recipients of the care. Even worse, it seems that one resident (who subsequently died) was CALLING OUT FOR HELP during the visit but his cries were not heard because all the action was in the office!

What is going on here? Have those involved in monitoring our homes for frail older people become so desensitised or brainwashed that they really think that looking at paperwork and chatting in the office tells you all you need to know about the quality of care received by residents? OR that it tells you all about the efficacy of the infection control?

This Column has long decried the emphasis on paperwork at the expense of on-the-ground care. Almost every staff member I know talks about the ridiculous nature of the current documentation requirements. But no-one is listening.

Ministers for Ageing come and go and nothing happens, nothing changes. And hard-pressed staff continue to spend precious time in the office when sick, frail people are calling out for help. How we all must hope that we are spared this fate when our turn comes.

Justine Elliot, the current Minister for Ageing, says that guidelines for those investigating clinical care in nursing homes are being revised. It is hard to think that it takes new guidelines to ensure that those checking on our homes actually talk to residents and their families – but if that’s what it takes!!

Prime Minister Rudd is holding a 2020 talkfest up in Canberra soon. He says he wants bright people with bright ideas to help move us all into the future. So far I haven’t seen any mention of aged care as one of the pressing issues needing new ideas. But then you don’t need to be all that bright to know that writing down everything doesn’t mean that it gets done – or that aged care needs a complete overhaul.