Assault claim worker quits

A worker at Aberleigh Rest Home has resigned after being confronted by her employer about alleged assaults of dementia patients living there.

A complaint has been laid with police about several alleged minor assaults on the dementia patients.

Staff members alerted management to the alleged abuse, Aberleigh director Alison Hume said. Ms Hume and her business partner Jim Haines bought Aberleigh in January this year.

"When something like this happens, it is important to open up and get the community involved. We do not want to sweep this under the carpet," said Ms Hume.

Constable Michelle Stagg, of Blenheim police, said that on Friday last week police received a complaint from Aberleigh management about a series of assaults on dementia patients by one female staff member between October 20 and November 13.

Police inquiries were continuing and no charges had yet been laid.

On November 13 Aberleigh management met representatives of Age Concern, Alzheimers Marlborough, Workplace Support and Aberleigh family support worker Jean Rooney to plan how the situation should be dealt with.

The Nelson Marlborough District Health Board and the Ministry of Health were informed.

This week the families of all 20 residents with dementia were told about the alleged abuse and of the action taken, said Ms Hume. Letters have been sent to families of all Aberleigh residents. Resthome residents were updated and reminded how to complain about anything that didn't seem right.

Staff will attend abuse and neglect training with Helen North of Age Concern on December 10.

Aberleigh's dementia patients live in two 10-bed homes. It is understood that the woman accused of abuse worked a night shift in the unit, when the staff-to-resident ratio is one to each home of 10 compared with 2-10 during the day. One dementia caregiver also helps in the general resthome when required and a registered nurse is on call.

Dementia sufferers' unreliable memory meant they were not always listened to, Ms Hume said, but family should always report any complaints about care to resthome staff or an organisation like Alzheimers Marlborough or Age Concern.

"It's easy to think that people who have dementia can't be right, but sometimes they are right," she said.

All staff working in Aberleigh's dementia accommodation – including the alleged abuser – were specially trained to take a "best friends" approach to dementia care which could be very difficult, Ms Hume said.

Alzheimers Marlborough community worker Kaye Clarke is impressed with the professional way that Aberleigh has dealt with the alleged abuse of some residents.

As an advocate for dementia sufferers in Marlborough and their caregivers, Mrs Clarke makes regular visits to dementia units in Marlborough where she says the quality of care is high.

Marlborough has 59 dementia beds at three resthomes, Aberleigh, Waterlea and Ashwood, funded by the Nelson Marlborough District Health Board. Board planning and funding general manager Sharon Kletchko confirmed the Ministry of Health had recertified Aberleigh rest home within the last year.

- The Marlborough Express