Eldercare aged-care nurse sacked after allegedly assaulting elderly dementia patient

An aged-care nurse has been fired and police are investigating after an elderly dementia patient was allegedly smothered.

A South Australian aged-care nurse has been fired after allegedly smothering an elderly dementia patient with a pillow last month.

The Eldercare staff member was dismissed after the allegation against them was made several weeks ago, chief executive Jane Pickering told The Advertiser.

“Eldercare undertook a thorough investigation and whilst we were unable to prove the allegation we erred on the side of caution and based on our zero-tolerance policy with regards to protecting our residents we did terminate the employee,” she said.

“The resident was not harmed and still remains in the care of Eldercare with the full support of the resident’s family.”

SA Police confirmed it was investigating an alleged assault on March 22 at a South Australian nursing home and said the victim was not physically injured.