Robert Driver: Inquest hears how grandfather died at Bolton Clarke residential aged care home

An inquest into the homicide of a grandfather who died at the hands of a dementia patient in an aged care facility has found the facility’s response was “appropriate.”

Robert Driver was allegedly knocked from his walker in an “unprovoked attack” at Bolton Clarke’s Lake Macquarie aged care facility on August 20., Robert with his twin granddaughters

An inquest into the homicide of a grandfather who died at the hands of a dementia patient in an aged care facility has found the facility’s response was “appropriate.”

Robert Driver, 89, was a resident at Bolton Clarke, an aged care facility in Lake Macquarie, when he was the victim of an unprovoked attack on August 20, 2020.

Mr Driver, a former lieutenant in the Royal Australian Air Force, was living in the Long Tan Unit at Macquarie View Retirement Village in Bolton Point at the time of the attack.

According to the coronial report, he had a history of advanced dementia with confusion, previous falls, chronic back pain, hypertension, and depression, along with past injuries.

Robert driver with daughter Julie-Anne Jones and her children.

Just after 7pm on 20 August 2020, Mr Driver was being escorted to his room after dinner when another resident with dementia pushed past the worker, slapped Mr Driver, and then punched him twice in the face.

This caused Mr Driver to hit his head on the corridor wall and collapse to the floor.

Immediately after the incident, he was placed in a wheelchair and taken to his room, where a neurological assessment was conducted.

At 10.15pm, he showed no signs of pain or discomfort, but just before 1am, he complained of neck pain.

The following morning, an ambulance was called, and he was taken to the emergency department at John Hunter Hospital just before 10.30am. Scans revealed he had a type 3 fracture through the base of the odontoid peg.

Medical advice recommended non-operative management with an Aspen collar. If he was unable to tolerate the collar, compassionate, comfort-based care without it was advised, with medication administered as needed.

Robert Driver was allegedly knocked from his walker in an “unprovoked attack” at Bolton Clarke’s Lake Macquarie aged care facility on August 20.,

Mr Driver’s condition continued to deteriorate and he was pronounced dead on August 25.

An autopsy found no evidence of intracranial injury or skull fracture, with the cause of death listed as cervical spine trauma.

NSW Police declined to commence criminal proceedings against any individuals in relation to his death.

Associate Professor Sally McCarthy stated that pre-hospital interventions were “graded and responsive to the worsening pain” and that his management was “adequate and appropriate.”

Katherine Platt, general manager of clinical and service governance at Bolton Clarke, provided a letter to the court outlining several changes made since the incident.

She detailed a review of the resident selection guidelines to ensure they are fit for purpose, particularly in relation to behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia.

Robert Driver was allegedly knocked from his walker in an “unprovoked attack” at Bolton Clarke’s Lake Macquarie aged care facility on August 20., Robert at 16 when he joined the RAAF

A new falls management guideline was also introduced following a major review in July 2020. This included detailed post-fall management flowcharts and a structured process for both clinical and non-clinical staff to follow.

After considering the evidence presented during the coronial investigation, Magistrate Derek Lee found the response by Bolton Clarke to be appropriate.

Originally published as Robert Driver: Inquest hears how grandfather died at Bolton Clarke residential aged care home