ALLEGATIONS of serious physical and verbal abuse of elderly residents at a south Dublin nursing home have been disclosed to the Health Information and Quality Authority.
The authority, in a sworn court affidavit, revealed it had been provided with details of a number of incidents of alleged abuse against five residents of the private Rostrevor nursing home in Rathgar over a period dating back to mid-2008.
The authority also cited concerns about “an alarming history of falls, injuries and incidents” at the home.
The disclosures made by three staff during inspections of the facility late last month included an allegation that a male care assistant routinely took an elderly woman resident to the bathroom on his own.
“When he does so the staff members said they hear [the woman] screaming and that this is a regular occurrence,” the authority stated in its affidavit.
It was also alleged the same male attendant banged the head of an elderly male resident off a door jamb in late 2010 and then instructed other staff to say the man had fallen and hit his head on a hoist if they were asked by the man’s son why he had bruising and blood on his face. It is also alleged on another occasion this elderly man was kicked by the care assistant while on the ground.
It was further alleged he was seen slapping another male resident on the face when putting him to bed.
Gardaí were informed by the authority on May 27th and have begun an investigation.
The authority, on foot of its affidavit, which also outlined concerns about lack of proper governance structures, obtained an interim court order at Dublin District on Friday, effectively shutting down the home.
The HSE has now taken charge of the facility, which has 23 residents, and is seeking alternative placements for them. The home is registered in the name of Therese Lipsett, who was recently struck off the nurses’ register for professional misconduct, and Kitelm Ltd. Ms Lipsett’s daughters Avila and Sarah are the company’s directors.
The owners of the facility will ask the Circuit Court today to restrain the dispersal of residents “all over the place” while the closure of the home is legally challenged.
Gavin Ralston, counsel for the owners, told the Circuit Civil Court yesterday his clients “refute absolutely the allegations that have been made”.He told Mr Justice Matthew Deery an appeal was being sought on the basis that the District Court had exceeded its mandate.
Furthermore, he said the home had been closed on foot of an ex-parte application and this meant the home owners had been given no opportunity to oppose the application.
A number of relatives of residents in the home, including Claire Ivory from Churchtown, yesterday expressed shock at the allegations. Sources close to another resident said he was happy with the home and had no complaints about the care.
The Minister of State with responsibility for older people Kathleen Lynch said she was “horrified” by the reports of elder abuse at the home. She said the reports highlighted the need for the introduction of whistleblower legislation as three staff in the home who disclosed the allegations of abuse said they were frightened of losing their jobs.
Age Action also called for greater protection for whistleblowers.
Dr Shaun O’Keeffe, former chairman of the Irish Society of Physicians in Geriatric Medicine, said the case highlighted how important it was to have a robust nursing home inspection regime in place and how important it was to have a body like the Health Information and Quality Authority to which people could go if they had concerns.
“Obviously the case will have to be investigated appropriately but this reinforces the need for [the authority],” he said.