People in Queensland's aged care centres are seeing more COVID than ever before, and while anti-viral medications and vaccines are saving lives, the Council of the Ageing says a lack of available staff may be putting residents at risk, particularly in the regions.
Across the country there are now more than 1,000 active outbreaks in aged care centres, including 219 in Queensland.
As of Friday, 931 aged care workers and more than 1,200 residents were grappling with COVID infections.
The loss of staff from COVID and other illnesses is compounded by huge staff turnover.
An estimated 65,000 aged care workers are leaving the industry each year according to a major report released last month.
900 workers battling COVID
Paul Sadler of the Aged Care and Community Care Providers Association said the work of caring for people was hard enough in major cities, but in regional areas finding workers was even tougher.
He said the biggest concern was that staff shortages could affect the health and care of residents.
"We know that there are instances where home care visits are being cancelled due to the unavailability of staff."
He said "less essential" work was being wound back, which meant fewer activity programs to ensure staff were focused on patient care.
In the past week, Australia's COVID-19 cases and death rates were the third highest in the world on a population basis – higher than the United States, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom.
Among the 219 outbreaks in Queensland, regional aged care homes were recording dozens of COVID cases within their walls as staff and residents were infected.
Problems 'magnified' outside the city
Darren Young from the Council on the Ageing said people who have family in aged care would be concerned given the number of COVID cases across the state.
But he said with anti-viral medications available for all those over 70 years of age who test positive for COVID, and better protocols for handling the virus, it was staffing that was becoming a critical pinch point.
"It's going to be a lot harder for those facilities to manage out in a country town."
Mr Young said the rise in cases also meant some older Queenslanders may be reluctant to leave their homes, and that too can be bad for their health.
"That could go on for months and months," he said.
"And that can certainly impact negatively on an older person's mental health."
The new federal Labor government has vowed to introduce legislation when parliament sits this week, including an increase to the wages of aged care workers.
'Isolation is a killer'
Mr Sadler said while Australia was waiting for changes, people should be reaching out to their loved ones in care because social isolation could sometimes be as dangerous as the pandemic.
"Do everything you can to keep up your support and contact with your loved one," he said.
"So we need to keep in contact with our loved ones."
