Professor Joseph Ibrahim says operators and Government must provide transparency before visitor restrictions can be lifted in SMH op-ed

The outspoken head of the Monash University’s Health Law and Ageing Research Unit has warned that relaxing visitor restrictions to aged care homes is “potentially dangerous” – despite his belief that isolating aged care residents by excluding visitors can also prove harmful. You can read the full 700-word piece – titled ‘Why the PM is wrong to push for visits to nursing homes’ –here. Professor Ibrahim argues that greater transparency is needed before visitor restrictions can be relaxed – including the publishing of data on the level and nature of screening measures at aged care homes.

“We should know how effective these are and how well the nursing homes are implementing them,” he said.

The Professor also advocates for a national policy on what should be done when a COVID-19 outbreak happens in an aged care home that takes into account learnings from other homes in Australia and internationally.

“To be convinced, we should be able to read what information the government has about COVID-19 outbreaks in nursing homes – to see a map and tally board of these infections. Tell us what happened in those nursing homes: how the infections occurred, how they were contained, what is being done to inform other homes, and what are we doing to avoid a repeat of such infections?” he says. “Tell us how infection control is being measured in every nursing home. Reassure us that each nursing home has the resources and skills to do what is required, and that each has the necessary personal protective equipment.”

Professor Ibrahim is also critical of the current policy of keeping residents who test positive within homes.

“We need a better strategy because the risk to other residents is significant and potentially fatal. Isolation will be required to protect other residents. However, a resident placed in isolation should not be in solitary confinement. We need to improve staffing to ensure the quality of life is maintained for these residents.” “Where are the government initiatives on this?” he concluded, saying addressing these concerns will allow visits to resume.

How realistic are these measures however? Evidence to the Royal Commission into Aged Care has already shown that data and staffing are the two ‘sore points’ for both the Government and the sector. There were few strategies to address either before the pandemic – what is the likelihood that this now changed?