Care assistant pleads guilty to ill-treatment of dementia patients

A care assistant at the Rush Hall Nursing Home in Limavady, Co Derryhas been sentenced after she pleaded guilty to two charges of ill-treating two male dementia patients.

One of the patients under her care was was 87 years of age and the other was aged 80.

Brenda Elizabeth Andrews (50) from Rose Park in Limavady, was to have gone on trial at the Magistrate's Court in Derry for the offences, but just before the contest started she pleaded guilty to committing both offences in May of last year.

A prosecution solicitor told the court that in the first case Andrews and another care assistant were attempting to settle an upset patient in bed when he began swearing at them.

Andrews told the patient to “stop scowling and to stop swearing” before tapping him on the back side and putting her hand over his mouth. Her work colleague told her that she had not acted in the right manner towards the patient.

The second incident, again involving Andrews and the same work colleague, occurred several weeks later when they were trying to change another patient’s incontinence pad. Andrews again tapped the elderly man on his back side. Her colleague this time told her “what she did was wrong” and she reported both incidents.

A defence barrister said by pleading guilty to both offences, Andrews had acknowledged that her behaviour towards the patients was wrong and inappropriate.

“She had a genuine passion for her employment. She worked in this nursing home for five years and she loved caring for and interacting with the patients in her care. In the light of this conviction she will never get a similar job again, that part of her life is over”, he said.

“She acknowledges her behaviour was inappropriate despite the fact she works in at times difficult situations with patients who may be aggressive because of their condition. She accepts her behaviour was not proper”, the barrister added.

District Judge Barney McElholm said while it was not a shocking and cruel case which involved Andrews inflicting pain, it was incumbent on people who cared for dementia sufferers to maintain the patient’s human dignity.

“These offences would not have come to light but for the intervention of other members of staff who quite rightly were concerned about the behaviour of this defendant towards certain patients.

“These cases are disturbing for the family and for the wider community, however it is important that the courts do not react in an hysterical or populist manner when sentencing.

“This is not a case which demands or cries out for an immediate custodial sentence.

“In each case there will be a three month jail sentence, suspended for eighteen months. Besides the punishment of this court there will be other ramifications for this defendant”, he said.