Irene Donne died after being pushed by aged care resident Lindsay Ford at The Birches in Hamilton

A former charity president died after being pushed at her Hamilton aged care home — but the man responsible for her death won’t be held to account.

Irene Donne, 85, died after being pushed by aged care resident Lindsay Ford at The Birches in Hamilton. Picture: Stock.

A former charity president died following an assault at her aged care home in country Victoria.

But the man responsible for her death will not be held accountable due to his poor health and subsequent death during the homicide investigation.

Former St Vincent’s DePaul regional president Irene Donne, 85, died in May 2020 after being pushed over by fellow resident Lindsay Ford at The Birches in Hamilton, southwest of Victoria.

Both parties suffered from dementia, with Mr Lindsay considered to be in the advanced stages and with a history of aggression toward residents prior to his death from natural causes in October 2021.

State Coroner Judge John Cain this week cleared The Birches over Mrs Donne’s death, finding it could not have reasonably foreseen or prevented the confrontation.

“The Birches reacted quickly and appropriately to the incident on 23 April 2020 in separating both parties, rendering assistance to Mrs Donne, and arranging medical assistance as required,” Judge Cain found.

Lindsay Ford suffered from dementia. Picture: istock Facility

Mrs Donne and Mr Ford were arguing outside the facility’s sunroom when he forcefully pushed her to the shoulders.

Mrs Donne fell backward, striking her head on a wall before falling to the ground.

Staff rushed to help Mrs Donne who was distressed and upset but showed no sign of injury beyond a “sore head”.

Mrs Donne was regularly checked on by staff prior to an on-call doctor appointment the next day.

She underwent an X-ray and was prescribed pain medication but continued to deteriorate and died on May 3.

An autopsy found evidence of a skull fracture and multiple fractured ribs associated with pneumonia.

Her death was ruled as being caused by complications following a fall.

A criminal investigation into Mr Ford was not progressed due to his medical condition.

Charges related to resident-to-resident aggression are rarely laid “because in most cases there is no public interest served by pursuing” such action, the Coroner’s finding read.

Judge Cain said while he found no wrongdoing on the part of The Birches, it was critical aged care providers work to improve their processes for preventing and responding to resident-to-resident aggression, particularly where dementia is a factor.

“Unfortunately, resident-to-resident aggression will continue to pose a significant challenge for residential aged care providers,” he found.

The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety in 2018 made a number of recommendations for improving care arrangements for people with dementia.

A National Dementia Action Plan is currently being developed.