Despite the extensive regulatory framework, Ms Wee said the Windsor case will inevitably lead families to ask whether audits are sufficient to detect problems before they escalate. She called for more unannounced inspections.
“This will help to catch the weak ones,” she said, drawing an analogy to a classroom: students who do their homework consistently would have little trouble with a surprise test, while those who are unprepared are more likely to struggle.
Dr Mary Ann Tsao, founder and chairwoman of the Tsao Foundation, said serious lapses in nursing homes can arise from insufficient manpower, inadequate staff training, weak quality monitoring and cost-cutting measures.
“A good nursing home is expensive to run as it’s labour-intensive,” she said. “To optimise profit, there would be temptation to cut corners and inappropriate cost-saving measures.”
LOOKING OUT FOR RED FLAGS
While regulators are responsible for oversight, both experts said families remain an important line of defence.
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