title: Australia.
abstract: Care home investigations and bed blocking Spot checks at residential care facilities have uncovered apalling levels of malnutrition. A surprise inspection by the federal Department of Health and Ageing found that in one 100-bed facility in the state of Victoria, for example, ten patients were significantly underweight, and there were concerns about general levels of nutrition and dehydration, skin care and pain management. Two patients in the Kirralee home in East Ballarat, aged 98 and 86 and suffering from dementia, weighed less than four stone. Three hundred care homes run by the same company, Aged Care Services of Australia Group, are now being investigated. The Health Services Union says it has received complaints from staff in seven other homes owned by the group.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Birmingham