Garrawarra is a special purpose hospital that was built by the government when Tuberculosis was ravaging Australia. That was a highly contageous disease and the treatment was prolonged bed rest. The hospital was sited deep in the National park between Sydney and Wollongong and fell into disuse when antibiotics almost eliminated Tuberculosis in this country.
Today, Garrawarra is a major nursing home, but it serves a very special role. It accepts the patients other nursing homes reject because of tendencies of aggression. Unfortunately the ravages of old age bring out undesirable traits in some people, particularly those with signs of Dementia - and that can be unacceptable to the equilibrium of normal nursing home life.
Government regulations are very strict when it comes to the care of nursing home patients. Laws ensure that they are treated with confidentiality and dignity and that they maintain most of the amenities that would exist in their own homes. All nursing homes are subjected to a licensing test and without a license they are not permitted to stay open and operate.
It seems that Garrawarra has failed that test because there has been evidence that some residents are showing aggression towards other residents or staff. There are accusations that some have been roughly handled and that restrains have been used and it seems possible Garrawarra may have its license revoked and be forced to close.
The government would be advised to think long and hard before it takes that step. If Garrawarra closes its doors a number of highly difficult older people will revert to the care of their loved ones because they will be denied normal nursing home beds. No doubt some will prove too difficult for relatives to safely handle and will end up sleeping rough on the streets. Inevitably, some will end up in the prison system. Garrawarra serves as an important sanctuary. The last resort for very difficulty people - somewhere between hospital and a prison.
Because of that it should not be classified as a " nursing home ". It needs a new and very different description to serve the role it plays and it probably requires a separate act of parliament to bring that into being. Nursing homes are not permitted to dose patients with drugs to keep them quiet and yet that would seem to be an essential where disturbed people are concerned. Restraints are sometimes necessary to prevent self harm - and that is precisely where Garrawarra differs from the normal model of aged care. The people it serves are all unacceptable in the normal nursing home spectrum.
The dedicated staff do a marvellous job of looking after difficult people and it would be essential that whatever this new look facility is called receives firm oversight. We need to create the care regime that can adequately cater for the " misfits " that our usual nursing home system rejects.
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