Wednesday October 16, 2019

Environmental Health
City of Melbourne Council
90-120 Swanston Street
Melbourne VIC 3000

Dear

I have serious concerns over the content of ‘nutritional supplements’ which are provided to my
mother, D., where she lives at ........ Aged Care Facility.

D. had a ‘nutritional supplement’ written on her drug chart, Nestle Resource, one tetra pack of
237mls every day, approximately 80mls at each meal. It was in the past a constant battle to ensure
that she received it. I sent numerous emails to staff with respect to this.

On the morning of March 15 2017, I overheard staff member G., unusually keen, repeatedly
insisting that another staff member, J., bring D’s ‘nutritional supplement’ into her bedroom for me
to give her. I could not understand why this was such an issue. Eventually J. brought it in. I was
consequently concerned that this substance might be odd and I did not give her this drink but kept
it. I photographed this drink during the course of that day. I also kept that evening’s drink; both
remain in jars in my fridge at my home. Some months later one of them had crawled itself out of
the jar. (Photos attached A). Both the morning and evening drink of that day have aged differently. I
now have a considerable amount of these drinks from the care home in my own fridge. They are
odd. (Photos attached B).

I have raised questions with the manager as to where this drink comes from. It used to be in one of
the communal fridges, where I could see it. More recently it has been kept in the carers’ office, in a
locked cupboard. Also, either there is none available at all, (I am told there is none in the building)
or alternatively they are so determined that she will drink it the staff try to ensure they give it to
her with their own hands.
On Sunday October 29 2017 a carer insisted she was going to give D. her ‘nutritional supplement’
by her own hand; I asked her to bring me the tetra pack it had come from. She couldn’t, so I asked
her to take the drink away, which she did. Another carer then arrived and tried to top up the glass
of water I was giving D. with more water. I did not let her do this. I don’t know where it came from.
I am unable to view CCTV footage under ‘privacy’.
An arrangement was made on 22.01.2019 that if the staff were going to give D. her ‘nutritional
supplement’ by their own hands, they would open the tetra pack in front of me. Lunch time of
this day they did not do this and tried to give it to her behind my back while I was getting her
dessert. On the following day this was given to her at 6.50am; family member swipe cards only
activate from 7am (which is when I arrived); they had given her drink to her prior to my arrival.
Considering the considerable email correspondence and meetings regarding staff not giving D. her
nutritional supplement as on her drug chart, I found it odd indeed that on some occasions there is
an obsession that she drinks it, and specifically when I am not there....
Again, on Tuesday morning (5th Feb 2019) a carer came to D.'s room with an opened pack of wild
berry resource. I asked her to bring in an unopened chocolate one, as is the arrangement, which
she did. After she gave her her resource she then suggested washing it down with water; I told her
she wouldn't be doing that, which she didn’t.
On May 13 2019 I received a letter from the manager at .....Care Facility, stating:

On May 18 2019 when I arrived at the facility I found that my swipe card had been blocked.

Your urgent attention to this situation would be appreciated.

Yours Sincerely
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