News
4 November, 2025
Respect tested at Alkira
SENIOR executives from the beleaguered Respect aged care service met with dozens of family members and residents of the Toogoolawah Alkira home last Friday (October 31) following concerns raised over poor service.
The meeting came a week after Federal member for Blair, Shayne Neumann, met with 120 locals following allegations of poor food quality, including feeding residents bread or party pies for meals, staff shortages, and low standards of care.
Speaking to The Sentinel following last week’s meeting, attended by about 80 residents, family members had a mixed response to the attempts by Respect to allay concerns.
David Klaehn, whose mother passed away at Alkira in September, said the meeting went “really well” but he remained sceptical regarding actual change. “They said they were going to do everything that people wanted, but if it happens or not is another thing,” he said. “It’s got the ball rolling I think, and they said they’ll follow this up and follow that up. They better, because we’ll be following up.”
While believing the meeting promoted change, Mr Klaehn added he was unsatisfied with the answers he and others received to questions. “Whenever I called them out on things like the lack of staff they just looked down with no answer to anything,” he said.
According to Mr Klaehn, he told them the staffing levels and lack of nutritious food required for his diabetic mother, Florence, contributed to her death in late September. He said his mother had told him that at one stage she had not had a shower for three days.
Another attendee with a family member currently at the facility said they were not happy with the meeting and would not be attending another meeting with Respect. “I am still concerned about the standard of care for my parent,” they said, requesting anonymity. “I just didn’t trust the two men. I just didn’t know how honest they were being.”
They questioned how it could be that Respect said it was not aware of any complaints at the facility until the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission got involved. “Someone at the meeting showed them an email complaint they sent to Respect, including a reply they got from a staff member, but the men just tossed it aside and said they would deal with it,” the person said. “How does a CEO not know that complaints are being made about one of their facilities? I don’t know if their answers were truthful or if they’ve done their homework.”
The attendee said Respect admitted the changeover process since Alkira was purchased by them in July was done poorly and apologised for the standard of the food. “They promised change to the food and more staff, but I’m still concerned,” the attendee said. “The local staff are great, but the staff that just come in and do a quick shift and go, they don’t have the same kind of care. They just do a job and leave. That worries me.”
Respect CEO Jason Binder said they appreciated the opportunity to meet with residents and families at Alkira. “We’ve listened to feedback and will continue to make improvements in line with our commitment to high-quality care,” he said. “We take all concerns seriously. If any communication gaps occurred, they’ll be addressed internally. Regardless of what happens on the outside, our focus will always be on providing great care at Alkira, and that’s what earns a good reputation in the community.”
Mr Binder said they met with residents and families, have taken on other suggestions, and will action them like they do at all their homes, as part of their “philosophy of continuous improvement.” “We’ll continue to engage with our residents and their representatives further and are committed to resolving any problems they have,” he said.
The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission visited Alkira unannounced to conduct a regulatory monitoring visit on October 15 and 16. A report of the findings has not been made yet, and Respect have received no orders from the Commission.
