Attila Toma Initiates Investigation into Brother's Death at Aged Care Facility Amidst Unexplained Injuries and Discrepancies
Attila Toma initiated an investigation into the death of his brother, Jozsef, at Blakiston Lodge aged care facility after discovering him with unexplained bruises and blood. Jozsef, 78, who suffered from schizophrenia and dementia, required specialist care at the facility.
Initial Discovery and Concerns
On the morning of Jozsef's death, Attila received a call from Blakiston Lodge staff, who could not specify the cause of death. Upon arrival, Attila's partner, Hajnalka, attempted to film Jozsef's body but reported being prevented by staff. Attila later filmed Jozsef himself, noting visible bruises on his hands and blood under his arm, which had soaked through his jacket onto the sheets.
Blakiston Lodge management stated staff requested Hajnalka stop filming due to repositioning the body, an account Hajnalka disputes.
Attila's partner was reportedly prevented from filming Jozsef's body, which Attila later filmed, documenting visible bruises and blood.
Official Account and Discrepancies
Blakiston Lodge, owned by Barwon Health, informed Attila that Jozsef's death was not a coroner's case, attributing it to a fall the day prior. Attila had been informed of a routine fall in the courtyard while smoking, but was assured Jozsef was fine. This account contradicted the scene Attila witnessed.
Jozsef's death certificate later listed the cause as "sepsis associated with community-acquired pneumonia," a diagnosis Attila had not been previously informed of.
Regulatory Investigation and GP's Role
Attila lodged a complaint with the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission. Six months later, the Commission's findings reported that Jozsef was found after an unwitnessed fall on June 25, 2024. CCTV footage confirmed no other individuals were present during the fall. Staff documented injuries and pain, and a GP advised an X-ray if resistance to examination continued the next day.
Jozsef was given oxycodone, but pain monitoring records were absent overnight. He was found dead the next morning at 8:20 AM.
Less than 10 minutes after Jozsef's death, staff contacted the GP, who initially stated it was a coroner's case due to the fall. However, three hours later, the GP called back, revising his opinion to pneumonia based on a previous hospitalization, without viewing the body.
The GP initially deemed it a coroner's case but later revised the cause of death to pneumonia without viewing the body.
The Commission criticized Blakiston Lodge for failing to properly consider fall risks and monitor pain. It noted satisfaction with Barwon Health's implemented staff training.
Coroner's Findings
Jozsef's body underwent an autopsy after being held at a funeral home for over two months. In October 2025, nearly 18 months post-death, Coroner Audrey Jamieson determined the cause of death as complications from a "right humerus fracture with severe associated bruising to the right upper arm and chest," not pneumonia. The coroner affirmed that Jozsef's death was "reportable."
Despite Attila's suspicions of assault, the coroner concluded the death resulted from the unwitnessed fall and deemed the care provided "reasonable and appropriate" given Jozsef's refusal to be examined.
Attila's Continued Dissatisfaction and Systemic Issues
Attila expressed ongoing anger, questioning why his brother's broken arm was not thoroughly examined or treated, particularly given Jozsef's cognitive impairments. He highlighted the irony that Jozsef, a former ambulance driver, did not receive such care when he needed it most.
The article also noted a significant increase in "unexpected" deaths in Australian aged care, rising by over 21% in the past year. The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission stated it lacks definitive causes for this increase and does not consistently receive coroner reports.
Advocacy groups, such as Aged Care Justice and Reform Aged Care Now, expressed concerns about inadequate investigations and limited legal avenues for families. Attila's experience led him to a bleak conclusion: that deaths due to negligence in aged care can easily go unpunished and unaddressed.
Attila, reflecting on his brother's ordeal, observed, "Nobody knows and nobody cares."