By Dan Parker
A Palmerston North rest home has been closed by authorities after an elderly woman resident was found tied to a bed.
MidCentral District Health board inspectors were called to the Rose A Lea rest home last Friday after a cellphone photo of the 105-year-old woman was sent to them by a whistle-blower. A sheet had been tied to the woman’s leg and she was suffering from bedsores.
A temporary manager and a nurse were immediately put in charge and the home’s contract with the DHB was cancelled just an hour ago.
Security guards are now on site and there is no sign of operators Brian and Joyce Wenmoth.
The woman has since died. Her funeral was last Friday – the same day MidCentral Health was alerted to the photo.
There is no suggestion her death is in any way linked to her treatment.
Following the termination of the health board’s contract with the home, inspectors also found other breaches of standards and regulations.
The incident shares some similarities with a case at Epson’s Bellhaven Rest Home last year, where a resident had her mouth taped shut. A rest home worker was convicted of assault.
Police have received no complaint about the Rose A Lea victims treatment, and the family of the now deceased do not wish to comment.
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