An inquest has provided shocking new insights into the tragic death of Ronald Maine, a 71-year-old Helping Hand nursing home resident in Mawson Lakes. He passed away on September 27, 2022 after suffering from choking on food and advanced foreign body airway obstruction. It was reported in March that Maine had been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia. He had to live in a secure unit since his condition put him at a high risk of choking.
It’s not the first time that Maine has been forced to swallow something decidedly inedible. So at different times, he’s shoved clay and pearl beads into his mouth. His proclivity to roam and eat non-food items was a danger for his caregivers at the facility. On the day of the incident, one staff member noted that Maine looked sick immediately after drinking his morning tea.
Incident Report and Response
When she arrived at the hospital on September 27, a staff member observed that Maine was “pale, clammy with blue-tipped fingers. He was dentulous, and did not have a chomper, which added an additional layer of complication. The nursing staff immediately knew something was wrong. They seated him in a chair and kept an oxygen mask on him while waiting for paramedics to respond.
“There is no doubt that those who performed first aid on Mr Maine, did so to the very best of their abilities, in what I understand was a very stressful situation for them,” – Rebecca Schell
Paramedics got there soon after and tried to get Maine’s airways open while doing chest compression CPR. Despite their best efforts, Maine was declared dead at Lyell McEwin Hospital later that day. A months-long internal investigation by Universal Medical Center found that food and fabric ribbon was stuffed down his throat at the time of the incident.
Juvy Rakoia, one of the nursing staff who cared for Maine, remembered her first moments in the midst of the emergency.
“We checked his mouth, we swipe it out, there’s nothing anywhere,” – Juvy Rakoia
She observed that he was eating, in fact bingeing, all day long herself. Every time she went to check on him, he was fine.
“He was eating throughout the day so I wouldn’t really think there was any obstruction, I couldn’t see anything,” – Juvy Rakoia
Ongoing Concerns About Training and Preparedness
The inquest will also look into whether nursing staff had enough training in basic life support. Rebecca Schell urged for a stronger focus on examining emergency response planning in aged care homes.
“Ultimately, the inquest will consider the issue of whether appropriately administered first aid could have prevented the death of Mr Maine,” – Rebecca Schell
Schell pointed out that assessing adequacy of training overall could help ensure staff are prepared in emergency situations.
“This inquest will explore whether nursing staff in aged care facilities are receiving sufficient training in the provision of basic life support. This, in turn, may equip them to execute their duties in emergencies,” – Rebecca Schell
Witnesses recalled a horrific scene as nursing staff used desperate measures to try to save Maine’s life. Zijad Softic, the other staff member who witnessed the incident, reflected on the impact this had on Maine.
“He’s basically, what I can see, he’s dying but he’s still breathing, probably 6-10 [breaths] a minute,” – Zijad Softic
The emergency was real, adding considerable pressure and tension on the nursing staff. Manipulating structural barriers to care. They did their best to deliver treatment while lying in wait for more help.
Family’s Reaction and Broader Implications
Maine’s family members shared their heartbreak over his passing and spoke out about the lack of proper care given at nursing homes. Jessica Maine shared her experience and described her concerns about safety in social environments like that.
“If you can’t get care from an aged care home, then how can you be sure that your family is going to be safe,” – Jessica Maine
The tragic incident raises significant questions about the level of care and oversight for residents with complex health conditions like frontotemporal dementia. Continuing education and training for nursing staff is very important. By doing so, we guarantee that they’re better prepared to respond to emergencies decisively.
