By Kate Benson
Medical Reporter
October 22, 2008
TWO staff members at a Central Coast nursing home have been sacked for allegedly sexually assaulting women in their care.
One elderly resident, who suffers dementia, had her nightie lifted and her breasts inapprop-riately handled in an alleged assault at the Peninsula Village nursing home, at Umina Beach, five weeks ago.
The Herald understands the staff member was developmentally disabled and was working at the home under a government-funded employment scheme, but the nursing home refused to confirm this.
In a separate incident, another resident was allegedly assaulted vaginally about two weeks ago. Police confirmed yesterday that they were investigating both cases but were yet to lay charges.
The care manager at Peninsula Village, Melissa Dempsey, confirmed two staff were sacked immediately over the alleged assaults to "ensure there was no further risk to our residents". A manager had also been suspended.
"An allegation was made against a staff member working in the nursing home," Ms Dempsey said. "It was deeply concerning to the staff, management and the directors of our organisation, which has only two reasons for being, namely the care and welfare of our residents.
The news comes days after a Federal Government decision to force all nursing home staff to undergo police checks from January. Under existing rules, only staff who have unsupervised access to residents need police checks, but Lillian Jeter, a spokeswoman for the Elder Abuse Prevention Association, said the changes would not make any difference to patient safety.
"Only those who have been caught will have a criminal record and there are many people out there with predatory and abusive behaviours who have never been caught, or have been let off without a conviction recorded," she said.
Ms Jeter, a former police commander, said patients with dementia were particularly vulnerable. "If you don't know what it is going on, that you are being assaulted or who is doing it to you, it makes you even more of a victim. What if this was your mum or your grandmother? This is simply horrendous."
SOURCE: Sydney Morning Herald (Australia)
----------------------------------------------------
More Recent Posts from Spotlight on Elder Abuse
No comments:
Post a Comment