A CARE assistant has been suspended from her job after assaulting a frail 91-year-old woman in a nursing home, Selkirk Sheriff Court was told on Monday.
The elderly patient was left with a red hand mark on her back after being slapped by 27-year-old Holly Gordon.
Gordon, who has worked as a care assistant for seven years, was attending to the woman with another member of staff at Galashiels Nursing Home in Kirkbrae on September 8.
Gordon, a first offender, of Kilncroft, Selkirk, admitted striking the woman on the body to her injury.
Depute procurator fiscal Tessa Bradley said the accused had been suspended from her employment as a result of the offence.
She told the hearing that Gordon and three other staff members began their shift at 8am.
“At 1pm, the accused and another staff member were in the bedroom of the 91-year-old lady, who suffers from severe dementia and restricted mobility,” explained Ms Bradley, adding: “Their duties included changing her clothes and they were standing on either side of her, in the process of lowering her into a seat, when the accused, for no apparent reason, struck her on her back, causing her to scream.”
The other staff member told a colleague what had happened and the nurse in charge was notified. After checking the well-being of the elderly patient, a red hand print was found just below her shoulder. Details were recorded and management informed.
“The following day the accused was approached and blurted out, ‘I didn’t slap her. It was a tap’,” said Ms Bradley.
When the nursing home manager attended, Gordon said: “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it. I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”
Police were alerted and an investigation began, with Gordon making no comment when interviewed by officers on September 13.
Ms Bradley conceded: “The complainer can be difficult to deal with and can nip members of staff, but the accused wasn’t under any form of attack when she struck this lady.”
However, Gordon’s solicitor, Ross Dow, claimed the elderly woman had repeatedly nipped his client, describing the 91-year-old as “difficult and volatile”.
The lawyer went on: “This wasn’t the first time the lady had nipped her, and she momentarily lost her head and slapped her. As soon as she did it, she felt terrible and is full of remorse. She should have shown more resolve, but this is going to haunt her for the rest of her life.”
Mr Dow added: “She is in that profession because she is someone who cares, but her job is difficult at the best of times and fraught with anxiety. These elderly ladies and gentlemen can be difficult to manage.”
Sheriff Jamie Gilmour interjected: “You are surely not suggesting that if an elderly person with dementia nips a member of staff, they are entitled to retaliate?”
Mr Dow replied: “No, but where does one draw the line? Are you supposed to just stand there and take it? It is a terribly sensitive area.”
Sheriff Gilmour voiced his concern about the line of defence and a proof in mitigation hearing was set for October 22.