HammondCare staff Danielle Newton and Felicity Murray have been commended for their bravery and advocacy on behalf of a client, a woman in her 70s, who was experiencing elder abuse. Pictures supplied. Home care staff who took decisive action on behalf on an elderly client suspected of suffering elder abuse have been acknowledged for their bravery and advocacy.
Black Friday Sale Subscribe Now! Login or signup to continue reading All articles from our website The digital version of Today's Paper Breaking news alerts direct to your inbox All articles from the other regional websites in your area Continue The two HammondCare staff, care manager Felicity Murray and registered nurse Danielle Newton, were instrumental in having the woman, in her 70s, relocated to emergency respite care. At the time, she was suffering increasing levels of elder abuse, both financial and physical. Her son had control of her debit card and restricted her from her pension, and he was not permitting her to take her prescribed medications,while confining her to a bed in the lounge room of their home.
There was evidence of malnutrition, as well as unexplained bruising. The first thing she noticed, Mrs Newton said, was that the Newcastle house was generally unkempt, and the son kept himself apart when staff were in the home. "The son was always in his room, and it always smelled of marijuana, when I came in," Mrs Newton said.
"There was a lot of yelling coming from his room to begin with I didn't know wheth.