A SYDNEY woman hopes to single-handedly change one of the most overlooked and dangerous health issues in aged care after watching her grandmother suffer without air- conditioning during January’s searing heatwave conditions.
Ashley Hirst’s grandmother Joy was 101 and receiving palliative care in a residential aged care facility when temperatures hit 40 degrees in January.
Ms Hirst was devastated when she found her grandmother still in her room without airconditioning and which several staff members said was “like a sauna”.
She said a damp cloth and iceblocks had been provided, but they gave minimal comfort. Ms Hirst’s father had been at the same home on a different level, and his room had been fitted with airconditioning.
She has since launched a petition and campaign seeking action to ensure airconditioning is provided in all residential aged care facilities. Joy died in March, but her granddaughter will continue to campaign.
“According to the Australian animal welfare standards and guidelines for exhibited animals, all animal enclosures must provide temperature and humidity control,” she said. “So why does the Australian government care enough about the well-being, comfort and care of zoo animals to create legislation in the interests of animal protection, yet does not show the same level of compassion and devotion to our elderly citizens?
“I made a complaint to the Aged Care Complaints Commission who told me they acknowledge the discomfort of my grandmother, but that given the home had not breached any laws by not having airconditioning, they would not be taking any action.”
Ms Hirst also wrote to NSW Premier Mike Baird, who said it was a federal issue, and to federal Health Minister Sussan Ley.
Temperature control in aged care is a growing issue as states grapple with best practice management in heatwave conditions.
The Victorian government says the heatwave prior to the Black Saturday fires killed 374 people and led to a 46 per cent increase in emergency cases and almost triple the usual number of cardiac arrest cases.
People over 65 are particularly vulnerable to heatwave conditions because their bodies are less able to adapt to temperature changes and they have a decreased ability to sweat and reduce excess heat.
Medications can compound these issues.
University of Sydney research published in 2013 found “the majority of aged care facility staff were of the opinion that airconditioning prevents heatwave illness in aged care facility residents”.
The Heat Ready research found the prevalence of airconditioning varied widely, from about 98 per cent of facilities in South Australia to 65 per cent in NSW, with the remainder using fans, windows or evaporative coolers.
“When asked whether they knew the limitations of fans, and that these could be dangerous to elderly people in dry, hot weather, 88 per cent of (NSW) clinical staff said they were not aware of those dangers,” the report said.
In South Australia only 39 per cent of staff did not know the dangers of fans. About 30 per cent of facilities did not use fans, noting the dangers associated with their usage in an aged care environment.
One third of rural aged care facilities in two states did not have airconditioning, despite conditions which were often more severe and sustained in those areas.
Aged Care Crisis founder Lynda Saltarelli said airconditioning had long been an issue of concern.
“It’s excellent that the community are starting to get mobilised into doing things like this petition,” she said.
Sign the petition at www.change.org and search Ashley Hirst aged care.
