Residents of Roy Wotton Gardens and their families have been left to come to terms with the finality of the situation, following confirmation last week the Eden aged care facility is to be closed.
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Karen Butchers, whose mother has been cared for at the facility for three years, contacted ACM wishing to respond to "inconsistencies the press release contained".
Ms Butchers said some residents had already moved to other facilities, including Uniting, Imlay House, interstate and RSL LifeCare in both Merimbula and Tura Beach.
"When I rang to make inquiries and to inspect the Tura Beach site, I was told there were no vacant rooms available and a waiting list," she said.
ACM can confirm this is the case, with no immediate availability for either respite or permanent care.
"We were originally assured 12 rooms would be available to Roy Wotton Gardens residents, but these need refurbishment and may not be ready until well into 2022, Ms Butchers said.
She has made two official complaints to the Australian Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission about the handling of the matter and the poor communication.
RSL Lifecare director of operations Matthew Filocamo assured families in July full consultation would take place and support from counsellors would be available if the facility was to close, neither of which have taken place, she claimed.
"The meeting held in November was trying to save face, the fact they say there was a thorough consultation period beggars belief and is insulting," Ms Butchers said.
"It was about the ease of planning for RSL LifeCare for closure, not the welfare of and provision for residents, and Mr Filocamo was repeatedly challenged by families to admit that closure would take place."
Uncertainty, angst, and sadness about the future of the facility has weighed heavily on affected families since July when the initial mention of impending closure was raised, a "miscommunication" according to Mr Filocamo.
According to Ms Butchers, over the last two years, RSL LifeCare have poured tens of thousands of dollars into the premises, improving both the internal and external of the building.
"The doorways, I do believe, need widening, but according to industry advice I have received, that is not an insurmountable problem and to say that the facility is 'no longer of a suitable standard' seems ludicrous," she said.
Originally known as Nullica Lodge, the facility was built by the people of Eden, for the people of Eden, after significant community effort and fundraising, and was a highly sought after option for aged care in the region.
"For this I will remain eternally grateful as my mother has been expertly cared for in the best environment one could ask for," Ms Butchers said.
"It has been an exemplary example of how such a facility should be built, well done to the people of Eden who had the foresight or helped to create this wonderful home."
The suggestion by RSL LifeCare that 'lower-care needs are cared for in their own homes', does not sit well with families involved.
With an estimated shortage of 70,000 aged care workers in Australia and thousands of elderly waiting for assessment and assistance, Ms Butchers said issues sourcing staff for in-home care is not a valid reason for immediate closure.
"Was it expected those going into aged care were not to get older and need higher care or that they would go somewhere else because they were too much trouble?" she said.
"The residents have always had the highest quality of care as they aged and are not a burden as is intimated in the reason for closure."
The statement by RSL LifeCare that "residents will be offered alternative accommodation at the more contemporary Hugh Cunningham Gardens at Tura Beach" also raises issues.
"If this is true, why the need for urgent refurbishment before taking in new residents? There have never been enough rooms for all 24 residents to relocate there," Ms Butchers said.
She believes RSL LifeCare is in talks with Anglicare regarding the sale of the facility and has spoken to Anglicare management, and was told the consideration was for an "assisted living" facility.
"My 98-year-old mother would not be eligible. I was also told the sale may take up to a year to go through if it were to proceed," Ms Butchers said.
"This whole thing has been a sad and sorry mess thanks to what I believe has been a lack of compassion and honesty by RSL LifeCare management."
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Leah Szanto
Regional journalist covering the Far South Coast of NSW.
Regional journalist covering the Far South Coast of NSW.
