Elderly Territorians are sometimes waiting more than a month to receive at-home support due to a chronic shortage of aged care workers made worse by the pandemic, says a leading advocate.
In one case, an elderly person in Alice Springs waited up to six weeks to get help in their home, according to Sue Shearer, chief executive of Council on the Ageing (COTA) NT.
"They didn't have any family at all in Alice Springs, which is really sad," she said.
"That's the hardest — and saddest — part."
Ms Shearer voiced her concerns as nine aged care homes across the Northern Territory battle coronavirus outbreaks, with the Australian Defence Force assisting in three separate facilities.
In a statement, a spokeswoman for the federal Department of Health said: "At present, the department is aware of 10 residential and flexible aged care facilities experiencing outbreaks in the Northern Territory, with at least two expected to come out of lockdown within the next 24 hours."
"The ADF is providing support to three sites in the Northern Territory experiencing outbreaks," she said.
According to the latest federal government report into aged care outbreaks, the worst-hit facility in the NT is Hetti Perkins, an Indigenous service in Alice Springs.
As of Thursday, the number of cases linked to the outbreak at Hetti Perkins stood at 74, of which 47 were residents and 27 were staff members.
One resident, a woman in her 80s, died with COVID-19 last month.
The 60-bed facility is among those receiving ADF support.
Other NT facilities with "active outbreaks" on Thursday included:
- Flynn Lodge
- Juninga Centre
- Kalano Flexible Aged Care Service
- Malala Flexible Aged Care Service
- Pearl Supported Care
- Pulkapulkka Kari Nursing Home and Hostel
- Regis Tiwi
- Terrace Gardens.
Ms Shearer said the outbreaks in aged care homes were concerning, but "unfortunately, probably inevitable" given how far the virus has spread in the Territory.
She said the residents inside would be "really scared".
"We've heard lots of people, unfortunately, have to stay in their room," Ms Shearer said.
"They don't have really any social interaction which is really quite sad, and that's what these people need desperately."
Aged care outbreaks 'very concerning'
In Darwin, 12 residents and seven employees at Regis Tiwi aged care home have also tested positive for COVID-19.
NT Senior Australian of the Year Robyne Burridge described the growing cluster, which began on February 27, as "very concerning".
"I think one case, particularly when you're elderly or elderly and disabled, should be treated very seriously let alone twelve."
She pointed to the fact that people over the age of 70 were at increased risk of severe COVID-19 disease, with outbreaks interstate early on in the pandemic leading to multiple deaths.
Ms Burridge said the outbreak needed to be "watched very carefully".
However, she wasn't surprised by the increase of cases in NT aged care homes, given that COVID-19 was now in every region of the territory.
"We have now reached a point in time where COVID can pop up everywhere," Ms Burridge said.
Elderly residents not allowed visitors
At Regis Tiwi, to minimise potential spread, only essential visitors and those attending for "end of life grounds" are allowed to visit residents.
People with COVID-19 are in their rooms, and carers are helping them keep engaged by phone calls and FaceTime calls.
Ms Burridge expressed concern for the people who weren't able to see their families and wanted allowances to be made so they could see at least one visitor in person.'
Research THAT analysed the global effect of COVID-19 isolation measures on people living with dementia found the cognitive abilities of people with dementia declined during lockdown.
"I think the various nursing homes, they have a responsibility to address this issue," Ms Burridge said.
"Because some residents haven't been able to have any contact with family members — not even one — they have forgotten their family members.
"This is a very sad situation."
