Junee aged care worker investigated by the Health Care Complaints Commissions
A dementia patient who thought therapy dolls were real babies has watched on in distress as a nurse at a Riverina aged care centre bashed the toys’ heads on a table while ‘laughing’ with a co-worker.
The Wagga News
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A Junee aged care worker has been investigated after laughing as her colleague bashed dolls’ heads on a table in front of a dementia patient who thought the babies were real.
Elizabeth Daniher was investigated by the Health Care Complaints Commission which found she was “complicit in tormenting” an 85-year-old aged care resident at the Junee Multipurpose Service Aged Care Facility.
Decision documents state Ms Daniher was working as an assistant nurse at the Riverina aged care facility on December 9, 2021 where another enrolled nurse engaged in “bashing” therapy dolls’ heads against a dining room table.
The documents state these dolls were used for therapy for residents suffering from dementia with the resident involved known to interact and take care of the dolls.
It was alleged Ms Daniher and another nurse then dropped the dolls to the ground while “laughing and encouraging” the resident to watch, which caused her “extreme distress”.
After the incident the resident continually checked on the dolls for the rest of the shift.
Ms Daniher, who was enrolled in her second year of a Bachelor of Nursing, started working as an assistant in nursing in 2019 with Junee MPS but has since left the workplace.
Documents state the resident often took care of the dolls, nursed them and showed them to other aged care residents.
During its investigation, the Commission obtained information from witnesses and the Murrumbidgee Local Health District.
In response to the allegations Ms Daniher said it was the other nurse who slammed the doll on the table but accepted she should have stopped what was happening.
Ms Daniher in a written response said it was unacceptable not to step in and apologised to the resident involved and other residents.
Documents state while it appeared the other nurse physically committed the act of slamming the doll onto the table, Ms Daniher was “complicit” in the act and downplayed her role.
The Commission prohibited Ms Daniher from providing any health services in any capacity for a minimum of three months.
This prohibition order will remain in place until Ms Daniher can satisfy the Commission that she has reflected on her practice, completed an assessment course and been the subject of a risk assessment conducted by a Commission officer.
NSW Health has been contacted for comment.
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