Was Land just watching? – Scandal at home in Salzburg: seniors suffered pain

“Family atmosphere and warmth are very important to us.” For example, operator Senecura describes his nursing home in the Lehen district of Salzburg on his website. In a recent report – it is available for “Krone” – the Ombudsman paints a much more bleak and disastrous picture. There is both a “serious lack of care” and a “major staff shortage”. There is a “threat to the integrity and care” of the residents.

Resident with major wounds
A committee from the Ombudsman’s office paid an unannounced visit to the house on 21 April this year – and found dramatic circumstances. Extremely worrisome: According to the report, a top-of-the-line resident weighed just 42.5 kilograms. She said she was in a lot of pain. The committee members saw a dressing change and were stunned: “The wound already smelled of putrefaction,” it says. The resident was in pain as a result. During the dressing change, a “two-hand-sized bag of skin” was uncovered. According to the Ombudsman, the resident has not been given any painkillers and the wound edges have not been cleaned. The Commission classified their situation as “life-threatening”. They have been transferred to a hospital. The woman is reported to have died shortly afterwards.

underweight and malnutrition
In addition, those responsible determined that some residents were massively underweight and malnourished. However, the nurses took no action. The Ombudsman’s office has visited the house several times in the past due to many complaints from employees and family members.

Explosive: According to the Ombudsman, those responsible in the state of Salzburg knew about the abuses in the nursing home. However, they have not taken any steps to improve the situation for residents and employees. “The committee saw it as a dangerous concern. Nevertheless, the regulator’s approach was – to say the least – very cautious,” said ombudsman Bernhard Achitz.

Police question nurses about the allegations
Meanwhile, the prosecutor’s office is investigating the suspicion of “tormenting and neglecting underage, younger and defenseless people”, according to the request of the “Krone”. The police are currently interviewing the management, the nursing directorate and individual employees of Senecura. The Public Prosecution Service does not expect the first results until November.