An Adelaide nurse is under police investigation following allegations she assaulted elderly residents in her care at an aged care facility. The nurse, who has denied any wrongdoing, was suspended following an internal inquiry but later resigned from her position.
Detectives are examining claims that two residents, both believed to be in their late 80s, were assaulted at the Bene Aged Care Italian Village in St Agnes last month. While no charges have been laid, the nurse remains free to work in the healthcare sector, as her professional registration remains active with no recorded adverse findings.
The Bene Italian Aged Care Village, which houses 163 residents, has come under scrutiny regarding its standards of care.
This is the second major incident to affect Bene Aged Care in recent months, following the unexplained disappearance of opioid medication from another of its facilities in Hahndorf last December. Authorities have confirmed that the two incidents are not related.
The nurse in question, who is currently employed at a different aged care home, insists she merely administered Covid-19 rapid tests while holding the residents’ heads. She claims the facility’s management suspected her of misconduct, leading to her suspension and subsequent resignation.
She stated, “They asked me to resign from the home. I only gave a Covid test. I have not done anything intentionally. It was on camera, but it was not hard. They said the residents were distressed.”
Authorities were alerted to the alleged assaults on 6 February, following a security review that uncovered concerning behaviour. The identities of the affected residents have not been disclosed, and it remains unclear whether they sustained injuries. No ambulances were called to the scene.
A spokesperson for Bene Aged Care confirmed that the organisation is cooperating with external investigations. “Bene is continuing to support ongoing inquiries by relevant authorities, including SA Police, regarding the conduct of a former employee while they were providing client care services,” they told The Advertiser.
“The employee was stood down immediately after Bene became aware of the matter, and an internal investigation was undertaken. As a result, the employee is no longer working for Bene.”
The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) has stated that it cannot comment on individual cases unless information is already in the public domain. However, it encourages anyone with concerns about a registered healthcare worker to come forward.
SA Police have confirmed their investigation remains ongoing. Authorities urge anyone with relevant information to contact them as they continue to examine the circumstances surrounding these allegations.
