Elderly man who was caught on camera being abused by caregiver has died

Piri Wiri Tua Hemi had been living with his family since the incident at the retirement home. Photo / Belinda Feek

Piri Wiri Tua Hemi, 87, who in June last year was caught on hidden camera being slapped by his caregiver at a Hamilton rest home, has died.

The great-great grandfather died at Waikato Hospital on Thursday, January 5.

Shortly after the abuse was filmed, his family removed him from the Cascades Retirement Resort.

He had since been living in Rototuna with his family.

The planted camera caught a caregiver at Cascades, where Hemi was living in June 2016, giving him a slap on the hip.

She also repeatedly slapped him on the forehead.

Hemi suffered from dementia, had limited mobility and also poor vision and hearing.

Allan Hemi told the Herald at the time that he initially decided to put his father in the rest home as it was spacious and the staff seemed friendly.

During one visit he noticed that his normally happy father suddenly stopped talking.

One another visit, his father cowered and curled over when he waved his hand above his head to say hello.

The covert camera was installed by family following these changes to Hemi's behaviour.

They made the footage public shortly after they removed him from the retirement home.

The caregiver, Sonali Ananta Deo, 23, pleaded guilty to common assault in October 2016 at the Hamilton District Court.

A service will be held followed by a cremation at Newstead Park at 2pm on Tuesday, January 10.