An 87-year-old man has been hospitalised after being 'beaten to a pulp' by a fellow care home resident in Sydney. John Cain, 87, was attacked in a secure garden courtyard at HammondCare’s Hammondville facility in south-west Sydney around 9pm on Wednesday, June 17.
Victim Hospitalised with Serious Injuries
Graphic hospital images show the victim left unrecognisable, with a face full of blood and bruises. He has been placed in a neck brace and appears to have blood leaking from his ear. The pensioner was found badly injured and covered in blood on the veranda outside his cottage inside the facility’s secure dementia unit.
His daughter Margaret, who resides in Spain, said she has 'never seen anything like it'. She told 2GB: 'I’ve never seen anybody this beat up.' Margaret added that her mother received a call at 9.31pm informing her that John was hurt and needed to go to hospital. She said her mother was told she didn't need to attend the home and that an ambulance would be called.
Margaret immediately called the facility herself. She said: 'It was the night nurse that took my phone call, and I asked what had happened to my father. He said that the changeover of day staff to night staff told him that they had tried to put Dad to bed four times. Of course, it infuriated me. That was not my question. I asked what happened to my father. He said that he was found on the veranda outside of his cottage, bloodied up, as you can see by those photos. They wanted to send him to the hospital and told Mum, no need to come, we’re just going to put him in the ambulance. My mother, who’s 85, insisted that they wait until she arrived at HammondCare at Hammondville to join my father in the ambulance.'
Investigation Underway
The family now demand answers as John remains in hospital recovering. HammondCare say an investigation is now underway to determine how John was assaulted without anyone hearing or seeing anything. Executive General Manager Jenny Summerton said: 'We are extremely sorry and deeply saddened that this has occurred. Police were notified immediately of the assault and the family were also informed.'
The facility cares for 'people who are having lots of different aggression and agitation and other nocturnal behaviours that do come around from having a severe dementia diagnosis', Summerton said to Sydney Morning Herald. 'We never want to see any of our residents in any kind of harm … and that was really distressing, not just to me, but to all of our staff involved as well. Looking after people with high and complex behaviour needs is very difficult and very risky.' She added that the facility was adequately staffed.
A HammondCare spokesperson added: 'A full internal investigation has been underway through the night and will continue. A Serious Incident Report has been provided to the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission. The other resident involved is presently receiving one-on-one care and is being clinically assessed. Appropriate measures were taken to prevent further incidents. Families of other residents of Linden have been informed.'
Charges Laid
A 69-year-old man has been charged after the incident with assault occasioning actual bodily harm (DV). Geoffrey Innes was later taken to Liverpool Hospital where he remains under police guard. He was refused bail and is scheduled to appear in court via a bedside hearing on Friday.
