Ex-aged care nurse condemns handling of pandemic in residential homes

An ex-aged care nurse has called out her former employer, claiming they failed to adequately care for residents during the COVID-19 pandemic and this year's Omicron wave.

The nurse, who chose to remain anonymous, said aged care residents were restricted to their rooms for weeks on end, alone and unable to see family or friends.

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"Isolated to their rooms for weeks, they weren't allowed to leave their rooms through COVID," she said.

"Visitors weren't allowed into the facility, so their only way of support was through us."

The aged care worker said she and her colleagues had sought support from management but that no changes were made.

"Constantly looking for support from management but it just wasn't there."

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The woman said she was so distressed by what she witnessed at the home she made a decision to leave the aged care industry.

Industry leaders now predict the current COVID-19 wave will be direr than the first.

The Queensland president of the AMA, Maria Boulton, said the industry was entering crisis mode once again, with more antiviral medication needed for vulnerable people in aged care.

Tomorrow, the state's aged care minister will meet with advisory groups to discuss the possibility of military involvement.

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