‘It’s just a matter of how long’: Wife of brutally beaten dementia patient shares agony
Updated . First published
The heartbroken wife of an elderly dementia patient has shared her pain after he was brutally attacked, allegedly by a fellow resident, at an aged care facility in Sydney’s south-west.
John Cain, 87, was found bloodied and bruised by staff at the HammondCare Linden Cottage at Hammondville at about 9pm on Wednesday after being attacked by a fellow resident.
Leah Cain has expressed her frustration towards the facility that her 87-year-old husband was staying at. 9News
He was rushed to Liverpool Hospital in a serious condition after suffering a brain bleed and a broken eye socket, among multiple other injuries.
His wife of 60 years, Leah Cain, told 9News that his dementia has been a nightmare and that she thought the Hammondville facility was where he needed to be.
“I thought that he was really happy there, she said.
“I just sat there while he fell asleep and then made sure that he was comfortable.”
She has voiced her frustration after the facility said there were no cameras in the communal courtyard where her husband was allegedly attacked.
“I think that you should have known that cameras tell the truth,” she said.
John, 87, was rushed to hospital with multiple injuries to his face and body. 2GB
“It’s just a matter now of how long he might live, because he won’t be removed from that hospital.”
Following inquiries, police arrested and charged a 69-year-old man, who was also a resident at the facility, with assault occasioning actual bodily harm (DV).
He was later taken to Liverpool Hospital, where he remains under police guard.
The 69-year-old was granted bail and moved to a different facility in Campbelltown.
Both men suffer with dementia and require a high level of care.
The 87-year-old grandfather has been left with severe injuries to his head and arms after being allegedly attacked by another resident. Supplied.
In a statement to 9News, the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commissioner, Liz Hefren-Webb, said a provider found to have not met its legal obligations will be held accountable.
“If at any time we find an immediate or severe risk to other residents living at the service, we will move quickly to ensure that they are safe,” she said.
On Thursday, John’s daughter, Margaret, told 2GB that she had “never seen anybody this beat-up”.
“I’ve never seen anything like this before,” she said.
Confronting images sent to 2GB, which nine.com.au has decided to blur, show the dementia patient with a heavily swollen, bruised and beaten face, lying in a hospital bed following the alleged assault.
It is alleged that the resident attacked John in the courtyard of Linden Cottage, which specialises in caring for those with the most severe cases of cognitive decline.
HammondCare has announced that a full investigation is under way. Supplied
Executive general manager Jenny Summerton said the company is “extremely sorry and deeply saddened that this has occurred”.
9News approached HammondCare, but it refused to comment, saying it is focused on supporting the families and staff impacted.
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