Abuse claim at rest home

A rest home worker is under police investigation after allegations of assault against dementia patients.

The latest case of rest home abuse is one of 23 current investigations by the Ministry of Health regarding the abuse of elderly residents in rest homes. It follows a case this week where a 103-year-old woman's leg was tied to a bed.

Co-workers at Aberleigh Rest Home in Blenheim reported the woman was assaulting dementia patients, according to Martin Taylor, CEO for the New Zealand Aged Care Association, who represents Aberleigh Rest Home.

The female staff member, who had worked at the rest home for three years, was suspended and later sacked for what Taylor called "mostly verbal and limited physical abuse".

Most of the physical assault occurred when the staff member was helping residents move in and out of their beds, he said.

Taylor would not comment on the exact extent of the assault but said he was happy the staff member was suspended immediately and later sacked when the allegations were proven.

"I'm afraid the world isn't a perfect place. Everyone's dealing with the vulnerable elderly population.

"It's definitely something we need to keep our heads on about."

Given the number of caregivers nationwide, Taylor said, the incident rate was relatively low.

"The thing we've got to understand is that there are 35,000 staff and 750 facilities and somehow we're to accept all these caregivers will do everything right all the time?

"If only one out of a thousand is bad, that's only 35 per year."

Taylor would like a record of rest home workers with a history of abusing residents to be established to help prevent further incidents.

Blenheim police confirmed they had received a complaint from Aberleigh management about a series of assaults committed by a staff member between October 20 to November 13.

Inquiries were continuing and no charges have yet been laid, the police said.

The Nelson/Marlborough DHB did not return calls from the Herald on Sunday.