In a shocking incident that occurred at a nursing home in New South Wales, Australian police allegedly tasered a 95-year-old woman with dementia, causing her to be hospitalized with unspecified injuries. The incident took place on Wednesday after staff at Yallambee Lodge, located in southern New South Wales, called the police, claiming that the woman, identified as Clare Nowland by the media, was carrying a knife.
New South Wales state police confirmed that the elderly woman “sustained injuries during an interaction with police at an aged care facility.” However, their statement did not explicitly mention the use of a Taser. The 95-year-old is currently under observation at Cooma District Hospital.
Following the incident, a critical incident team has been assigned to investigate the circumstances surrounding the distressing event. The police statement emphasized that the investigation would undergo independent review. Further details regarding the incident were not provided by the authorities.
According to the Daily Telegraph, a Sydney-based newspaper, police encountered Nowland holding a knife while using a walking frame when they arrived at the nursing home. It was reported that she was tasered by the officers. The Snowy Monaro Regional Council, responsible for the management of the nursing home, acknowledged the occurrence of the incident. In a statement, the council expressed support for its staff, residents, and families during this challenging time. The council refrained from providing additional comments, citing the ongoing police investigation and out of respect for the privacy of those involved.
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) mentioned Nowland in a previous report when she celebrated her 80th birthday by going skydiving in Canberra. Relatives of the elderly woman, who had reportedly resided in the nursing home for five years, were present at her bedside in the hospital but declined to comment, according to ABC. Attempts to reach the media manager of the regional health department were unsuccessful.
This distressing incident has raised concerns about the treatment and care provided to vulnerable individuals in nursing homes and highlights the need for a thorough investigation to determine the circumstances leading to the use of a Taser on a dementia patient. The incident has sparked public outcry and calls for greater accountability and improved training for law enforcement when dealing with elderly individuals and those with cognitive impairments.
