Half of the residents of troubled Gold Coast nursing home Earle Haven were being physically restrained in the weeks before it abruptly closed its doors last month, the Royal Commission into Aged Care has heard.
Not only were 50 per cent physically restrained, 71 per cent were also being chemically restrained with psychotropic medication, the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (ACQSC) report from June 25 stated.
Just over two weeks after the report was compiled, the contractor that ran the village shut it down over a contract dispute with its owner, leaving about 70 residents needing emergency housing.
Ann Wunsch, an executive director from ACQSC, told the hearing she was concerned when she read the report.
She said the level of medication was at the "very high end".
"I've seen examples where that percentage has been in reports for services that have predominantly consumers with mental health or other complex care needs, but that's a very high number," she said.
Counsel assisting the commission asked if the physical restraint figure was more troubling.
"I agree that is a very troubling number," Ms Wunsch said.
"It's an unacceptable level. The sharper focus has brought this information to light and the value is in seeking to work to improve this picture across the sector.
"That is the reason for seeking to understand these matters in terms of percentages."
A new regime in place from July 1 makes it mandatory for aged care facilities to report the use of physical restraints.
The use of chemical restraints does not have to be reported.
Ms Wunsch said the assessment of the report had not been completed before the July 11 closure of Earle Haven.
Counsel assisting, Paul Bolster, said the report was the first that disclosed the problem at Earle Haven.
Ms Wunsch said that was because the "risk screening questions" that uncovered the figures were dropped in 2017.
They were only reintroduced for assessments in February this year.
Mr Bolster asked Ms Wunsch if the issue would have been found earlier if the right questions were asked in the years before.
She said she did not know and that data reflected a point in time.
Earle Haven had been under sanctions but they were lifted towards the end of 2017.
No more sanctions were placed on the facility before its closure last month.
