An Australian woman said she placed a hidden camera in her elderly father’s bedroom, which captured a care worker abusing him.
The abuse was filmed in September 2015 at Mitcham Residential Care Facility in Adelaide, operated by Japara Healthcare, the report said.
Noleen Hausler, the elderly man’s daughter, gave the footage to police before Lucas was jailed on aggravated assault charges.
She shared her father’s story as part of a case study presented in Perth earlier this week.
“Being confronted with the visual images, I went into a state of shock and total concern for father,” she said in a statement to News.com.au. “My heart was racing [and] my hands were shaking.”
In the report, Hausler said her father, who has dementia, spent some 13 years at the facility.
She said that over eight days, Lucas abused him twice and an agency employee abused him once.
“I had no idea that someone could possibly do that,” Hausler said. “I felt for dad in the fact that I didn’t protect him sufficiently.”
When she complained to the facility about the case, they told her she was illegally spying on care workers. Later, Hausler’s story was taken seriously.
“I believe that my father’s quality of life suffered as a direct result of management’s culture,” she said. “If a lesson can be learned, it is that resident-centered care means everyone’s voice must be heard and respected regardless of being verbal, non-verbal, advocated, evidenced, or witnessed.”
Hausler added: “[It’s] very much a widespread problem in the sector ... it happens all behind closed doors. These are the most vulnerable people ... they can’t speak, they can’t raise the alarm.”
The woman said that placing cameras in rooms is a necessity.
“I believe extremely vulnerable loved ones in care, who mirror my father’s diminished capacity to speak or defend themselves, deserve additional protection in their private rooms,” she continued.
“It has certainly improved our understanding of some lack of care that occurs from time to time in this area of aged care,” he said.
Another Case
A British caregiver who was filmed secretly slapping and abusing a 101-year-old patient was jailed for eight months, it was reported.Police stated that Reid was filmed via hidden cameras after the victim’s family became concerned about the 101-year-old. In August, detectives launched an investigation into the matter after relatives gave them the footage.
She was sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court on June 18 after pleading guilty to mistreating the woman.
“I am glad the woman responsible for inflicting unnecessary distress and pain on a defenseless woman has been put behind bars,” police constable David Nash said in a statement. “A lot of trust is put into personal carers and this trust was shattered by Reid’s actions against this woman.”
