30-Jan-2012 AN Adelaide nursing home has closed its doors after failing half the accreditation standards in an audit.
An Aged Care Standards Accreditation Agency audit last month identified "serious risk to the health, safety and wellbeing" of the 34 residents at King's Park Nursing Home.
The home's accreditation was to be revoked from February 10, but the approved provider, Kazmae Pty Ltd, closed its doors and found alternative accommodation for the residents earlier this month.
The audit found the home did not have enough experienced, qualified staff or appropriate management systems, and did not offer appropriate clinical care.
The Department of Health and Ageing subsequently imposed sanctions, requiring the home to "contact a nurse adviser to more urgently address required improvements in care for residents".
It was found the residents "were at risk of harm from physical and verbal assault, poor infection control practices and deficiencies in the physical environment".
Their privacy and dignity was compromised "by management and staff attitudes and behaviours", and the home had physical hazards that posed risks to residents.
Kazmae proprietor James Lake said that once the home was notified, the required changes were made and the sanctions were removed on January 4, just days before all the residents left the facility.
"As proprietors we are the last ones to find out what's going on because it's run from the ground," Mr Lake said. The facility, which started in 1984, had not been purpose built as a nursing home and the cost of altering the site was too great.
"It was an old facility that needed a lot of maintenance or a large upgrade, but given where the market is and the viability of the home, it was decided it was best to close."
An Aged Care Standards Accreditation Agency audit last month identified "serious risk to the health, safety and wellbeing" of the 34 residents at King's Park Nursing Home.
The home's accreditation was to be revoked from February 10, but the approved provider, Kazmae Pty Ltd, closed its doors and found alternative accommodation for the residents earlier this month.
The audit found the home did not have enough experienced, qualified staff or appropriate management systems, and did not offer appropriate clinical care.
The Department of Health and Ageing subsequently imposed sanctions, requiring the home to "contact a nurse adviser to more urgently address required improvements in care for residents".
It was found the residents "were at risk of harm from physical and verbal assault, poor infection control practices and deficiencies in the physical environment".
Their privacy and dignity was compromised "by management and staff attitudes and behaviours", and the home had physical hazards that posed risks to residents.
Kazmae proprietor James Lake said that once the home was notified, the required changes were made and the sanctions were removed on January 4, just days before all the residents left the facility.
"As proprietors we are the last ones to find out what's going on because it's run from the ground," Mr Lake said. The facility, which started in 1984, had not been purpose built as a nursing home and the cost of altering the site was too great.
"It was an old facility that needed a lot of maintenance or a large upgrade, but given where the market is and the viability of the home, it was decided it was best to close."

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