95-year-old woman injured in police call-out at nursing home

Police launch an investigation after the woman sustained serious head injuries at her NSW aged care home.

Clare Rowland, 95.

An investigation is under way after an elderly woman sustained serious head injuries when she was tasered by police at an aged-care facility in southern NSW.

The well-known 95-year-old, who lives at Yallambee Lodge in Cooma, was taken to Cooma District Hospital where she remains in a critical condition. The family of the great-grandmother are reportedly at her bedside.

Clare Nowland, who has suffered from dementia, was believed to be carrying a knife when police were called to the ­facility on Wednesday. Police reportedly struggled to disarm her and she was tasered by an officer.

This caused her to fall and suffer a serious brain bleed and a suspected fractured skull.

Family friend Andrew Thaler said the family was “nervous, shocked and confronted by the reality of what’s happened while Gran was in a nursing home … the family don’t expect she’ll come out of the hospital”.

He said the family was confused over why the staff thought it appropriate to call the police on an old lady.

Yallambee Lodge in Cooma. Picture: Google Maps

“This woman is 95. Clearly they knew she has dementia, she has good days and bad days, it’s four in the morning. They say she had a knife in her hand – maybe she wanted to make toast,” Mr Thaler said. “They don’t have a proper explanation as to why this happened.”

A critical incident probe has been launched to “investigate the circumstances surr­ounding the incident”, NSW police said in a statement.

“An elderly woman sustained injuries during an interaction with police at an aged-care facility in the state’s south today.

“That investigation will be subject to independent review.”

Snowy Monaro Regional Council, which runs the Yallambee Lodge aged-care facility, said in a statement “council are supporting our staff, residents and families during this difficult time”.

NSW Council for Civil Liberties president Josh Pallas said NSW police should not deploy Tasers on vulnerable people who are experiencing dementia or mental illness.

“Surely there are more appropriate ways to deal with noncompliant people who are suffering,” Mr Pallas said.

“The problem with Tasers is there is a misunderstanding about their potential lethality.”

Ms Nowland has been described as a “public lady” and “well-liked”.