The facility is already operating at a reduced capacity because of the shortage of personnel, in particular, a lack of registered nurses.
A spokesperson for SCC NSW and ACT said they were concerned about the potentially drastic consequences the shortages could have on the deliverance of high-quality clinical care and staff well-being.
“As a responsible provider, we prioritise the care needs of residents and the well-being of our staff in all decisions we make,” the spokesperson said.
“We are working in partnership with residents, families, and representatives regarding voluntarily moving residents to other local or SCC homes as an emergency measure.
“Since October last year, no new residents have been admitted into our Moama home in effort to prioritise the needs of current residents and staff, but unfortunately, this has not eased the pressure of meeting the clinical needs of high-care residents.”
SCC NSW and ACT are a not-for-profit organisation that have been operating in Moama since 2003.
The 20-year-old aged-care home is just one of many facilities along the Murray River facing chronic staffing shortages, the spokesperson said.
Consequently, SCC recently made the call to no longer take on any new admissions at the Corowa residential care home.
“The shortages are exacerbated in regional and remote areas where there are added hurdles such as the availability of accommodation,” the spokesperson said.
“There are several aged-care facilities and health services in and around Moama that are all competing for the same finite pool of available staff.
“We have been addressing the staffing crisis through interim solutions.
“One of these includes engaging agency registered nurses from Victoria, ACT and Sydney, but this measure is extremely difficult to secure and is unsustainable in the long term.”
SCC has rolled out community campaigns, such as full-page “call to action” advertisements, as well as targeted recruitment ads to engage more registered nurses.
It has also lobbied politicians to generate more incentives for working in aged care and to develop strategies for providing affordable accommodation along the Murray.
In some cases, it has even arranged locum staff to fly in from interstate to provide respite for regular staff.
SCC chief operating officer Gaynor Squillacioti said its mission was to ensure residents lived the best life they could.
“To be able to deliver on that, we need more staff and more volunteers. There’s just no substitute,” Ms Squillacioti said.
“Ageing is everyone’s business.
“We sincerely hope that there is capacity from within these communities to help with the current staffing situation.
“This is the community’s chance to extend the relationship and contribute to the workforce shortages experienced in many regional towns.”
Ms Squillacioti urged people within the community to consider applying for volunteering roles or paid positions.
There are a diverse range of rewarding jobs on offer for experienced workers or people just starting out — including being a carer or working in housekeeping.
For more information about how you can support your nearest Southern Cross Care and the wider community, visit https://www.sccliving.org.au/join-us/make-a-difference
