Elderly man suffered injuries and weight loss in rest home, investigation finds

A man in his 80s suffered from pressure injuries, weight loss and possible dehydration while being cared for at Mercy Parklands, a sanatorium in central Auckland, the Health Disabilities Board said. A survey revealed.

Deputy Director Rose Wall said Mercy Parklands did not look after the man “with reasonable care and skill” and violated the Consumer Rights Code of Health and Disability Services. .

Ellerslie Hospital and Nursing Home said in a report that they “do not believe they failed to provide basic care to their patients.” [the man] for months.”

However, he admitted that “poor communication, documentation, and inadequate clinical care” caused him unnecessary suffering.

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A man in his 80s received hospital-level care at Mercy Parkland in 2017.

Soon his normal walking ceased and he was only able to move around using a wheelchair.

By September, the man’s mobility had dropped to the point where he could only move his upper extremities.

By 2018, his daughter said he was unable to turn in a wheelchair and was in pain. When she raised the issue with staff, they took no action, she said.

Mercy Parklands gave the man a mobile chair and cushions and pain relievers after he sent him an email complaining in February 2019.

Later that year, doctors discovered ulcers, dry skin, and pressure damage on the elderly man’s buttocks.

Deputy Commissioner Wall said the elderly man had received inadequate care for a long period of time, resulting in weight loss and pressure sores that could have been prevented.

Mercy Parklands was unable to complete an accurate assessment of mobility and pain control in older men.

She issued a written apology to the man to the rest of the house and recommended that an audit of the skin integrity and wound care records be conducted.

“Unexplained injuries to vulnerable consumers are particularly troubling and highly disturbing when they occur within residential facilities for the elderly,” Wall said.

The family also accused Mercy Parklands of yelling at an older man, hurting him, and aggressively wiping his butt.

All staff involved deny these events.

“From the consumer’s perspective, we don’t know what happened and how it affected us.

“In situations like these, there is a shared responsibility to ensure adequately robust safeguards within dilapidated residential care homes to protect vulnerable consumers,” Wall said. .

One of the medical assistants apologized in writing to the man. Another apology from the care worker was recommended but not delivered.

“I am glad that people are paying attention to what happened in the past. ” said Wall.

The daughter told the committee she hopes this will be a catalyst for change in the rest of the house.

We’ve reached out to Mercy Parklands for comment.