Family Demands Justice for Elderly Woman Brutally Attacked in Kirrawee Nursing Home
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Content warning: This story contains discussions of violence, elder abuse and death. Reader discretion is recommended.
It’s a heartbreaking story that no family should have to go through—an elderly woman brutally attacked in her Sydney nursing home.
Joan Hobbs, a lively woman aged 89, was originally admitted into the IRT Thomas Holt Aged Care Centre under the advice of her doctors as she battled with intensifying dementia.
An unimaginable ordeal unfolded a mere eight weeks into her stay. Joan was brutally assaulted, leading to her tragic passing, in what her daughters describe as a 'hideous' incident—one they never imagined could happen in a place they had trusted to keep their mother safe.
Startled by an early morning text, Joan's daughters rushed to Sutherland Hospital only to be faced with an image that will undoubtedly haunt them for the rest of their lives: their mother, battered and bruised, the victim of a fellow dementia patient within the supposed safety of the centre's walls.
The man had spent all but two days in the centre as a 'respite patient'.
Joan suffered severe injuries in the attack that left her 'black and blue', including bruises to her face and bones 'shattered all the way down' one arm.
Overwhelmed by the situation, Mulholland relived the painfully haunting memory during an interview with 7NEWS.
'I'm just mortified, absolutely stunned that something like this could happen,' she confessed.
'She wouldn’t understand what was happening, how frightened she must have been, terrified in those final moments.'
The family began funeral preparations for Joan, replacing what should have been a 90th birthday celebration.
Amidst their sorrow, the family saw a systemic failure. In their grief-stricken state, they’ve called out for the government to address issues like nursing staff shortages and inadequate support for dementia patients. They are not seeking retaliation against the perpetrator or the care home; instead, they yearn for an overhaul of the system.
'How many more have to die before we do something?' said Mulholland.
‘There are not enough nurses on the floors, and that’s a government issue they need to address.’
‘We need more nurses per patient.’
'It was just a really, really sad ending to a lovely woman’s life.'
‘She was an intelligent, beautiful, compassionate woman.’
It is vital to learn what to look out for when it comes to care homes. The Australian Aged Care Quality Agency recommends thoroughly researching staff-to-resident ratios and checking their accreditation status and past audit reports.
Let Joan's story serve as a wake-up call to stay informed about our loved ones' care. Negotiate for better conditions, ask hard questions, and make sure your family's voice is heard.
Have you or a loved one had a similar worrisome experience with a care home? We urge our SDC members to share their stories. By doing so, we can shed more light on the state of aged care in Australia, help others make informed decisions, and hopefully bring about a change in the system. Your voice matters.
It’s a heartbreaking story that no family should have to go through—an elderly woman brutally attacked in her Sydney nursing home.
Joan Hobbs, a lively woman aged 89, was originally admitted into the IRT Thomas Holt Aged Care Centre under the advice of her doctors as she battled with intensifying dementia.
An unimaginable ordeal unfolded a mere eight weeks into her stay. Joan was brutally assaulted, leading to her tragic passing, in what her daughters describe as a 'hideous' incident—one they never imagined could happen in a place they had trusted to keep their mother safe.
Startled by an early morning text, Joan's daughters rushed to Sutherland Hospital only to be faced with an image that will undoubtedly haunt them for the rest of their lives: their mother, battered and bruised, the victim of a fellow dementia patient within the supposed safety of the centre's walls.
The man had spent all but two days in the centre as a 'respite patient'.
Joan suffered severe injuries in the attack that left her 'black and blue', including bruises to her face and bones 'shattered all the way down' one arm.
Overwhelmed by the situation, Mulholland relived the painfully haunting memory during an interview with 7NEWS.
'I'm just mortified, absolutely stunned that something like this could happen,' she confessed.
'She wouldn’t understand what was happening, how frightened she must have been, terrified in those final moments.'
The family began funeral preparations for Joan, replacing what should have been a 90th birthday celebration.
Amidst their sorrow, the family saw a systemic failure. In their grief-stricken state, they’ve called out for the government to address issues like nursing staff shortages and inadequate support for dementia patients. They are not seeking retaliation against the perpetrator or the care home; instead, they yearn for an overhaul of the system.
'How many more have to die before we do something?' said Mulholland.
‘There are not enough nurses on the floors, and that’s a government issue they need to address.’
‘We need more nurses per patient.’
'It was just a really, really sad ending to a lovely woman’s life.'
‘She was an intelligent, beautiful, compassionate woman.’
It is vital to learn what to look out for when it comes to care homes. The Australian Aged Care Quality Agency recommends thoroughly researching staff-to-resident ratios and checking their accreditation status and past audit reports.
Key Takeaways
- An 89-year-old woman passed away after being attacked by a fellow patient at Kirrawee’s IRT Thomas Holt Aged Care Centre in Sydney.
- The family suspects the tragedy could have been avoided had the aged care centre had appropriate staffing.
- The attacker, a fellow dementia patient, had only been at the centre for two days, and the victim’s family insists they want no retaliation against him or his family.
- The incident has stirred up a call for action to improve conditions and increase staffing in aged care facilities, highlighting a significant issue facing Australia's seniors.
Let Joan's story serve as a wake-up call to stay informed about our loved ones' care. Negotiate for better conditions, ask hard questions, and make sure your family's voice is heard.
Have you or a loved one had a similar worrisome experience with a care home? We urge our SDC members to share their stories. By doing so, we can shed more light on the state of aged care in Australia, help others make informed decisions, and hopefully bring about a change in the system. Your voice matters.