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A Sydney nursing home has been investigated after an elderly resident suffering from dementia received bad bruises across her face and on both arms.
Margaret Heffernan’s son Darrell has told 9 News he doubts the home’s claim his mum simply fell.
“If you look at some of the bruising it’s probably more consistent with somebody holding her,” Mr Heffernan said.
“How can you fall and then end up with bruises on both of your arms?
“I’m not a forensic scientist, but if someone analysed that you would say that she was being held by either arm and then headbutted or pushed into a wall or something.
“It happened late at night so they just put a bandage on her head and put her back to bed.
“It wasn’t until the next staff member came in for their shift in the morning that my sister was called, about eight or nine hours later.
“My sister came in and called for an ambulance straight away and the ambulance officers were just in shock.”
The NSW Aged Care Complaints Commissioner investigated Mrs Heffernan’s case but could not “conclusively establish” her injuries were due to assault.
According to the commissioner’s report:
“While we acknowledge how concerning it must have been to feel that your mother was not safe at the service, we have examined all available evidence and cannot conclusively establish that the cause of your mother’s bruising was an assault.”
GRAPHIC: Another aged care home is under the spotlight after an 82-year-old woman was found severely bruised, with the provider claiming it was from a fall. #9News https://t.co/uEra9jK5V3
— Nine News Adelaide (@9NewsAdel) September 19, 2018
