6:50am Wednesday 10th March 2010
By Paul Teed
A 99-year-old woman who was allegedly attacked by a care worker in her own home has been too frail to give evidence in a police interview.
Detectives have carried out “considerable research” into a carer, who works for Medico Nursing and Homecare, but have been unable to get an account from the elderly patient because of her poor memory.
The woman was found at her home in Heston with bruises on her lip, neck and arm before police were alerted on January 25.
Detective Inspector Craig Robson, of Hounslow police’s community safety unit, said: “Because she is aged 99 and she only has a short-term memory, the only evidence we can gain is evidence from other carers and family members. It’s a long process."
Police asked the woman’s family if they could carry out a video interview at her home, but were concerned it would cause her too much distress.
D Insp Robson said his team have instead been working to piece together evidence from other sources, which could take up to another six months, before they speak to the Crown Prosecution Service about whether to progress with the case.
He said: “Because there are so many people to speak to, the enquiries we’ve got to carry out, and the delicate age of the alleged victim, it’s a very sensitive and difficult process."
He added that detectives have not yet interviewed a care worker - who was believed to have been visiting the elderly woman at her home for seven months - and it was important police kept an open mind over the alleged assault.
He said: “In normal circumstances you would think it was an assault because the lady did apparently have marks and bruising.
“However, people aged 99 tend to bruise more easily, and will have yellowy brown marks just from a very slight impact."
The council signed a contract with Medico for home care in October 2006. Its staff visit elderly patients in the east and centre of the borough.
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.richmondandtwickenhamtimes.co.uk/trade_directory/