A new report by the Auditor General of the City of Buenos Aires (AGCBA, for its acronym in Spanish) shows the situation of the Nursing Home Dr. Alejandro A. Raimondi and coincides with that of other centers evaluated: problems with the amounts of food served, building shortcomings such as humidity and leaks, lack of staff training and insufficient human resources.

The Raimondi Home is located in the coastal city of Necochea and can accommodate 286 elderly men and women who can fend for themselves or rely on a third party to carry out normal activities of daily life.

Despite being located in the province of Buenos Aires, the institution is under the aegis of the Secretariat of the Third Age of the City Government and the observations of the inspection body are related to this point. It is that "patients are welcomed at the request of the local municipality despite being outside their normative framework" because it can only assist the elderly who live in the City of Buenos Aires.

On revenues, the authorities "are not aware of an agreement concluded with PAMI that would allow them to bill the corresponding capita to members of this health care."

This home is no exception to the continuing shortage of professionals in the centers for the elderly that the audit detects. Specifically the deficiencies in the Raimondi "are clinicians, psychiatrists and nurses." It is important to note that during August 2013 "there is a psychiatrist that goes three times a week but no one is on permanent duty.”

Nor are there enough clinics to centralize the assistance of every specialty. In this situation, the lack of training is added. The AGCBA team "could not verify that measures have been implemented to promote the training of personnel from courses or workshops to learn and consolidate knowledge about the care of the elderly."

The report adopted in March 2014, shows that "only 33% of the agents received training during 2012 (audited year)". On the requirement of 20 hours of annual training, "nothing more than 7.3% of staff met that condition."

On the food received by the elderly the Watchdog made some observations. "In relation to the serving compared with the recommended weights, it was found that fish and flan served have lower amounts than those required, meanwhile the mashed potato with parsley is higher," said the report. Consequently, "there is less supply of nutrients with high biological value proteins and excess intake of carbohydrates, making food disharmonic."

It is no coincidence that "in every record of payment analyzed by the AGCBA there is an absence of rules or guidelines for food provision in order to establish what are the characteristics of the service and the governing conditions." In response, the Home is "precluded from making claims or impose sanctions for violations."

The AGCBA evaluated a 20.63% of the payments made representing a total of $ 5.5 million. "In all folders using a payment order constitutes a form of payment for costs of essential needs for procurement procedures not for contracting.” For the Watchdog this situation is starkly striking as an exceptional method for an activity that has been taking place since 1991.

The Home

The institution is located in a historic building, more than 80 years old and located by the sea. The passage of time and lack of maintenance causes "humidity and leaks in different areas." There were also shortcomings in the bathrooms because "many are down due to leaks, lack of ceiling lighting and lack of fittings, just to name a few."

The Pharmacy

This sector is responsible for continuously performing the source and the supply of medication. Here too, the audit team found "weaknesses" that "prevent an adequate control of drugs." Including "the absence of a pharmacist in charge" it is highlighted.

With the prescriptions something special happens it is that "the amounts of prescribed medication are not specifies, with prevents verification that the recommended doses are delivered."