Survey shows deterioration in nursing home care

Aged care has deteriorated in Victoria over the past two years, with some nurses looking after 47 elderly people at a time at nursing homes, compared to 39 in 2007.

The Age newspaper has reported on two surveys of 541 nurses and personal carers in 2007 and this year found their workload had increased significantly.

The surveys by Melbourne University, found that in 2007, ratios ranged between one to six and one to 39, at worst, at Victorian facilities. This year, the ratios ranged between one to nine and one to 47.

The surveys also revealed increased levels of aggression from nurses and carers towards residents and vice versa. For example, in 2007, 3.6% of participants said they had witnessed a co-worker being aggressive towards a resident at least once in the previous six months, compared to 7.3% this year.

The aggression included yelling and swearing, pushing, grabbing, shoving or pinching a resident, and threatening to throw something at them.

Nurses and carers also reported increased aggression from residents this year, compared to two years ago. This included residents trying to hit them with something and shouting or swearing at them.

A report written on the surveys by Associate Professor Leisa Sargent, Professor Bill Harley and Dr Belinda Allen, said the more residents each nurse and carer had to care for, the more likely they were to report lower levels of job satisfaction, an increased likelihood of quitting their job and feeling emotionally exhausted.

“Participants also reported that the more residents each registered nurse had to care for the less satisfied they were with their facility, and the lower resident safety and care at their facility was,” the authors wrote.

In 2007, 11% said they were likely or very likely to leave their job, compared to 15% this year.

A total of 65% reported that their gross annual income was $45,000 or less.