Standard protocol to call police to aged care homes: says expert

After the recent incident at Yallambee Lodge in Cooma, NSW, questions have been raised about why the police were called to the facility in the first place. At a recent press conference over the weekend, NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said it was not common practice to call police officers to an aged care home to attend to a tough situation involving a resident. 

“In my experience it is quite rare that we would be called to a nursing home,” she said. “It’s not something we come across regularly.”

But an aged care expert has contradicted Ms Webb’s statements and said police officers are called to aged care homes very frequently. Paul Sadler, an aged care consultant has said it is “common protocol” to call the police when the staff are unable to control a difficult situation.

Mr Sadler, who is also the former chief executive of the Aged and Community Care Providers said, “It is more common than perhaps the Police Commissioner is aware of.” 

“We frequently call in [the police] to investigate cases of physical assaults and sexual abuse when they occur in the aged care home.” He adds that it is common protocol where an incident involving some form of assault is involved.

Police are currently examining the bodycam footage from the incident which they have described as “confronting”.

The footage allegedly shows Ms Nowland approaching the officers slowly with her walking frame while carrying a knife just before she was tasered by the police in the early hours of Wednesday. At the press conference, Commissioner Webb says she will implement more appropriate training for all officers attending aged care facilities if necessary.

“If in the fullness of this investigation and any other matter, we come to learn that we need to better equip our officers to deal with dementia patients, then we will do so.” 

Meanwhile, Ms Nowland, 95, is still in a critical condition and receiving end-of-life treatment at Cooma District Hospital, according to 7news. She is surrounded by her family and close relatives who are still in shock from the incident.  

Commissioner Webb spent time with Ms Nowland’s family at the hospital. She described the great-grandmother to be a keen golfer and very involved with her community. 

When asked if the officer involved with the tasing incident was stood down, Ms Webb said the officer was no longer in office. “The officer is being supported by his command and others, so his welfare is being monitored.”